Pacific

Carmel Sepuloni's deputy PM appointment symbolic for NZ, Pacific leaders say

RNZ reports incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins - who is taking over the reins from Jacinda Ardern just nine months away from the general elections - chose Carmel Sepuloni as his deputy yesterday.

She also made history 15 years ago when she became New Zealand's first Tongan MP.

Reverend Setaita Veikune of the Methodist Church of NZ told Morning Report the Kelston MP's would serve as an inspiration for the younger generation, particularly girls.

Rabuka will 'reunite' the Pacific

Rabuka is scheduled to head to Tarawa on Friday to meet with President Taneti Maamau for bilateral discussions.

According to the Fijian government, Rabuka wants to "find a way to bring Kiribati back" to the Pacific Islands Forum and "nurture regional solidarity".

Kiribati withdrew its membership from the regional body in July last year over concerns the Forum was not meeting the needs of the Micronesian subregion.

     

New Zealanders urged to deepen their knowledge of Pacific

The call comes from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation which has just carried out its first-ever survey about New Zealanders' perception of the Pacific​.

PMN News reports the Foundation's Executive Director David Vaeafe says the report based on the survey gives a mixed picture of knowledge about the Pacific, with only 29 percent of those surveyed saying they had a good understanding of Pacific cultures.

Survey shows milestone drop in smoking among Pasifika youth

With just 1.2 percent of Pasifika smoking daily, that is significantly less than what it used to be in 2017 when it was at 5.3 percent.

Published by Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH), the survey is one of the largest ongoing youth smoking surveys in the world, with 29,538 Year 10 student participants, aged between 14 and 15.

The survey looks at both vaping and tobacco use.

Pacific confronted with new shocks and pronounced economic uncertainty

Addressing the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM) in Vanuatu last week, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Bo Li, said equally worrisome is the ongoing shifts in geopolitics, leading to a fragmentation of supply chains.

NZ Navy ships deployed to Pacific

Defence Minister Peeni Henare announced the planned departure of patrol boat HMNZS Wellington and off-shore support vessel HMNZS Manawanui.

Henare says the Navy will provide training to local forces and assist in border patrols.

The vessels will visit Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

     

Digicel delivers life changing high speed internet services to the people of the Pacific

Using a Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) link for the first time, Digicel will deliver high-speed internet to remote regions using equipment that’s easy to transport and install, even at sites located around forests or near large bodies of water.

NZ Foreign Minister defends 'lack of action' in the Pacific, says relationship is strong

Nanaia Mahuta has been criticised for not racing over the islands while China's Foreign Minister holds meetings with Pacific leaders, signing trade and development deals. 

“No shadow of a doubt, New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific is strong. We’re consistent, we’re reliable, we’re respectful partners and we have engaged with the Pacific over a long period of time.”

She says New Zealand can't compete with China, but will encourage the Pacific to make their own decisions. 

Australia promises the Pacific a new look

In a message addressing the region on Monday, Wong set the tone for Australia's renewed priorities for its island neighbours.

Wong said Australia recognises climate change is 'central to the security and well-being of the Pacific.'

She said the Labor government has heard the Pacific and will act to address the climate crisis.

NZ govt commits to Pacific broadcasting in the region

RNZ Pacific broadcasts into the wider Pacific on shortwave 24 hours a day, collaborating with 22 broadcasting partners across the region.

Its current primary transmitter is nearing end of life, and its other transmitter has in effect already been retired.

The announcement was made as part of New Zealand's Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi's plans for the new public media entity which is set to operate next year.