Stronger border controls

BIOSECURITY officers from around the region met in Nadi to validate four years of training that has strengthened the Pacific’s defence against pests and diseases threatening agriculture, biodiversity and trade. At a workshop earlier this month,...

Time for a new playbook? CEOs call for bold strategy as Luxon rating falls

“Hopefully New Zealand is turning the corner and has already been through the worst of the economic reset,” said Morrison CEO Paul Newfield. “The biggest risk is that, as a small open economy, we are knocked off course by the general deterioration...

PNG Golden Jubilee Attracts Unprecedented Global and Regional Support, PM Marape Calls for Continued Partnership

Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary saw an unprecedented gathering of regional and international leaders, underscoring the country’s growing diplomatic and economic significance on the global stage. Prime Minister James Marape hosted...

Toleafoa Motu Tony: A journey of resilience, faith and community

Former star for the Kiwis and the New Zealand Warriors, Toleafoa Motu Tony, is well-known for his resilience and leadership in the sport, carving out a remarkable journey for himself. Born in Saleimoa, Sāmoa, and with family ties to Niue,...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation Hosts Two-Week Research Training for PNGTPA to Strengthen Tourism Data Capacity

From 16 to 30 September 2025, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) hosted a two-week research training program for the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), aimed at strengthening PNGTPA’s capacity to manage and deliver...

The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP) Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Journey: What are we doing differently?

The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP), being implemented across 15 participating countries1, provided a rare opportunity to reimagine how MERL can meaningfully contribute to ensuring sovereign warehouse storage and response...

Pacific countries review impact of biosecurity capacity building programmes

Biosecurity officers from across the Pacific met in Fiji recently to review the impact of biosecurity training programmes delivered under the Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project...

UTOPIA Washington’s MANAFest 2025 creates “home away from home” for Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders

“My hands, my feet; my hands, my feet. My hands and feet, to uplift the village.” Singing in her native language, Phylesha Brown-Acton recited the song written by her uncle about their home and community. Hailing from Niue, a small, self-governing...

OPINION | A health and development challenge for the Pacific

Diabetes The first article in this series reported on the latest trends in development assistance for health and the second focused on the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and especially in low- and middle-income countries. This...

Inside the secret world of Kiwis working on billionaires’ superyachts

Normally, for a dinner with that many courses, Collé would have been up at 5am to begin preparation. She was the only chef on board the boat. Instead, she frantically grabbed crew members to help and descended into a panic-laced frenzy of cooking...

Regional Workshop Speeds Up Tariff Commitments under PACER Plus

Customs officials from eight Pacific Island countries at the three-day Regional Workshop on Transposition of Tariff Commitments and Product-Specific Rules under PACER Plus in Apia, Samoa. APIA, Samoa – Customs officials from eight Pacific Island...

Australia’s emissions reduction targets ‘a bit of a cop out’, says Pacific climate advocate

As Australia's prime minister prepares to spruik the countries new climate targets at the UN General Assembly in New York, a Pacific climate activist says these are "a bit of a cop out". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is addressing the United...

National broadcaster, BCN officially opens new studios and office after 2020 fire

Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi this morning thanked the Government of Australia for the support to rebuild and refurbish the BCN studios and new offices after the devastating fire in May 2020. This morning the AU$2 million project was officially...

Exploring Vanuatu’s Vibrant Seascape in Support of Ocean Protection

National Geographic Pristine Seas will study Vanuatu’s ocean ecosystems — which are known for their high biodiversity and at-risk species — in a bid to safeguard one of the most climate vulnerable regions in the world. National Geographic Pristine...

Bezos Earth Fund invests $37.5M to accelerate Pacific-led ocean protection

Grants will safeguard 835,000 square miles (2.16 million km²) of ocean across 12 countries and territories Washington, D.C. — A groundbreaking effort led by Pacific Island leaders to safeguard the ocean took a major step forward today, with the...

UNICEF blames global childhood obesity epidemic on trend toward ultra-processed foods

Key Points A new UNICEF report finds that more school-age children are now obese than underweight, with 188 million affected worldwide. Rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled since 2000, driven largely by ultra-processed foods replacing...

Ultra-Processed Foods Are Driving a Global Childhood Obesity Epidemic, UNICEF Finds

A new UNICEF report finds that more school-age children are now obese than underweight, with 188 million affected worldwide. Rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled since 2000, driven largely by ultra-processed foods replacing...

Marape successfully concludes round of meetings with visiting dignitaries

Prime Minister James Marape successfully concluded a long round of back-to-back meetings with heads of governments who arrived in the country to participate in the celebrations marking PNG’s 50th Independence anniversary. The hectic schedule of...

High on Health: Child Obesity Hits a New Record

A new UNICEF report reveals a dramatic shift in global child nutrition. For the first time, there are now more overweight and obese school-age children and adolescents than those who are underweight. Child obesity has become a worldwide problem,...

More children now living with obesity — UNICE

One in five children and adolescents aged five to 19 years globally, numbering 391 million, are overweight, with a large proportion of them now classified as living with obesity, UNICEF has warned in a new report. The Child Nutrition Report 2025,...