Results for Pacific Islands

New climate resilient buildings for twelve schools that have been rebuilt and refurbished in Ha’apai after being badly damaged by Tropical Cyclone Ian in 2014, were handed over to the Tonga government last week on 26 February.

The impending effect of climate change in the Pacific has initiated a partnership between the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 February 2016.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, Category 4, at noon today was located about 140km north-northwest of Neiafu, Vava’u. Various weather models forecast the dangerous storm moving toward Fiji over the weekend.

Handicraft makers in Vanuatu have won a new quarantine exemption that allows people to take woven mats and tapa from Vanuatu to New Zealand for items smaller than two metres.

As Zika anxiety grows among pregnant women in Tonga, some are choosing to leave the country - like a former Miss Heilala who fears that if she gets bitten by a mosquito and catches Zika during pregnancy it might harm her unborn child - and that means it's too risky for her to stay.

Tonga’s Pacific Games Organizing Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Sevele is still Tonga’s official organizing committee of the 2019 Pacific Games, Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Sports confirmed this morning, 27 January. By Pesi Fonua

A tropical cyclone alert is now in force for Niuatoputapu and Vava'u, as Tropical Cyclone Ula (Category 1) is currently moving south-southwest across the north of Tonga and expected to bring strong and gusty winds to the groups over the next two days. The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre issued the first alert for Tonga at 3:00pm today, Thursday 31 December 2015 and will continue to update their advisories this evening.

PACER-Plus is shaping up as an agreement that won't fit into the Pacific reality, will have weak protections for Pacific businesses and undermines the ability of governments to enact policies to support and nurture vital Pacific industries. ...Ask any Pacific businesses person and they will tell you how hard it can be to run a business in the Pacific. ...An updated analysis shows that tariff revenue losses will actually be more than previously calculated: Pacific countries are set to lose more than USD 200 million per year (Tonga USD$6million).- Adam Wolfenden (PANG).

During the final round of talks on climate change in Paris, France, Tonga is the latest country to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), joining over 150 Parties who have submitted their INDCs.