Results for Pacific Islands

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”.

Countries across the Pacific have now begun to receive a wide range of new television programmes from New Zealand, showcasing its culture.

Anna Jane Vea will represent Tonga at commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in France in September, as the winner of a World War I essay competition run by the New Zealand High Commission, in Tonga.

A two-year study on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific Ocean has valued the loss at over US$600 million per year resulting in Pacific Island nations stepping up plans to deter and eventually stop illegal fishing activities.

A dramatic Good Friday procession gathered a crowd in Nuku'alofa today as members of the Catholic Church marched along Hala Vuna from Hala Alamea to the St Mary’s Cathedral, Ma’ufanga. The event was dramatized: a white robed carrier of the cross wearing a crown of thorns was whipped, kicked and punched by companions dressed as Roman soldiers.

Legal representatives from across the Pacific gathered in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, last month for a three-day workshop on cybercrime training and and looked at how it affects criminal justice systems in the region.

A two-day private sector consultation is being held this week on March 17-18 in Nuku'alofa, to discuss the potential implications of the Regional Pacer Plus Agreement (PACER Plus) on Tonga’s private sector, following the closing of previous consultations hosted by Tonga's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry with representatives from the private sector and the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser (OCTA).