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.
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Results for Pacific Islands
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Wednesday 23 November 2016
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Suva, Fiji
A tourism destination brand ‘South Pacific Islands’ was launched in Asia’s largest professional travel show, the China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai, China this month by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) aimed at attracting Asian tourists to the region.

Wednesday 2 November 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
Tuesday 27 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will apply to become a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September, during a 26 minutes address that covered a range of issues.

Sunday 4 September 2016
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Manilla, Philippines
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.

Monday 29 August 2016
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Auckland, New Zealand
HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita opened the 20th Anniversary Conference of the Pasifika Medical Association, on Thursday, 25 August at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland.

Wednesday 27 July 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Thursday 16 June 2016
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Suva, Fiji
The Government of Nauru has reinforced its commitment to children’s rights by passing the Child Protection and Welfare Act on 10 June. This means legal provisions for the welfare, care and protection of all children in Nauru under the age of 18.

Monday 13 June 2016
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Majuro, Marshall 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.

Saturday 11 June 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Up to 250 Tongans who applied to the New Zealand government’s Pacific Access Category Quota for a chance to obtain residence visas, had applications drawn out on Friday.

Saturday 28 May 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Friday 20 May 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
ANZ has reduced its International Money Transfer fees from New Zealand to Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu aimed to make it easier for remittances that support incomes across the region.

Friday 13 May 2016
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Newcastle, Australia
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”.

Tuesday 10 May 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) arrived in Nuku’alofa yesterday morning, 9 May on a three day routine visit.

Friday 6 May 2016
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Countries across the Pacific have now begun to receive a wide range of new television programmes from New Zealand, showcasing its culture.

Thursday 28 April 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga could be used as a transfer point for the illegal trade of arms if its government doesn’t sign the International Arms Trade Treaty warns Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA). In the Pacific region, Tuvalu, Samoa, Australia and New Zealand have signed and ratified the treaty and Vanuatu, Palau, Kiribati and Nauru have signed.

Wednesday 27 April 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.

Wednesday 6 April 2016
Suva, Fiji
A new cyclone is threatening children and families in Fiji, UNICEF warned this afternoon. Only weeks after Category 5 Cyclone Winston ripped through the Fiji Islands, affecting 40% of the population, Fiji is once again facing extreme weather conditions due to the presence of three tropical disturbances, one of which has formed into rapidly-intensifying Cyclone Zena.
Friday 1 April 2016
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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.

Tuesday 29 March 2016
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Wellington, New Zealand
A new Pacific research institute, aimed at supporting sustainable development in the Pacific region, was launched by New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, on 22 March 2016 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
