Results for Pacific Islands

Biodiversity conservation in Tonga and Fiji is vital for the development of its tourism sectors and must be managed properly to sustain the natural habitat, while providing a livelihood to communities. The importance of preserving biodiversity was made clear at this month’s High Level Roundtable discussions of the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP13) in Cancun, Mexico.

Miss Fiji, Anne Christine Dunn, was crowned Miss Pacific Islands at the 2016 pageant on Friday night in Apia, Samoa. Miss American Samoa, Antonina Lilomaiava, was the 1st runner up to the crown. Miss Tonga, Laura Lauti, won the prize for Miss Photogenic.

An 18 month long project to support the development of the vanilla industry in Vava'u this year has also helped Tonga's MAFF and Australian development partners to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by vanilla growers and the vanilla industry. Over 100 vanilla growers were directly assisted and 328 plantations monitored under the project, which has identified a need for new plantings, particularly on small family plantations.

Bank of South Pacific Tonga Ltd. last week opened new sub branches at Ha'apai and ‘Eua with fully Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) installed. BSP Country Head, Daniel Henson said renovations at the Vava'u branch were also opened by the Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai, attended by the Chairman of Bank South Pacific, Sir Kostas Constantinou OBE.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to spend up to $2.5 billion in loans and grants to strengthen economic development in 14 Pacific Island countries after it unveiled a new five-year strategy on 1 September.

Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva will meet New Zealand's Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key on Thursday 28 July, during his first bilateral visit to New Zealand from July 27-30.

A new United States Government fishing regulation that went into effect late last month, violates a conservation measure for high seas fishing in the Western and Central Pacific, “This is a superpower abusing a measure agreed to in December 2015," said Dr Transform Aqorau today, 13 May.

A project to remove invasive rats from two Tongan islands, Malinoa and Motutapu, is proving to be successful with signs that native plants are recovering along with bird life and marine animals. Other islands of Fangasito and Luahiapo in the Vava'u Island Group are now being included in the programme.

Australian Police arrested 66 activists in a climate change protest that shut down a coal port in Newcastle city last Sunday May 8 according to local reports. Over 1,000 protesters includied members of the Pacific Islander activist group “Pacific Climate Warriors”.