Chief Justices from the Pacific Islands are in Nuku'alofa this week, attending a workshop to strengthen judiciaries in the Pacific. The focus on judicial leadership is part of an Initiative funded by the New Zealand Government.

The workshop from 5-7 September is part of the Pacific Judicial Strengthening Initiative (PJSI), funded by the New Zealand Government.

Chief Justices, Judicial Officers and senior court staff from Tonga, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, are attending.

The workshop, hosted by Tonga’s Hon Chief Justice Owen Paulsen, is exploring leadership, what is driving change in South Pacific courts and the methods and tools to support leaders in Pacific judiciaries to lead and manage change locally.

Senior judicial officers across the region will also have the opportunity to discuss the issues facing their judiciary and develop effective strategies to overcome these issues and strengthen their court systems.

The goal of PJSI is to build fairer societies by supporting the courts in the Pacific region to develop more accessible, just, efficient and response justice services.

The initiative operates in 14 Pacific Island countries including Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.