Results for Pacific Islands

New research reveals the chances of the New Zealand South Island’s Alpine Fault generating a damaging earthquake in the next 50 years are much higher than previously thought. The probability of that earthquake occurring before 2068 is about 75 percent, says Dr Jamie Howarth of the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington today in a published study.

Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, are preparing for the new edition of the Harmonized System (HS 2022) used to classify traded goods which will come into force on 1 January 2022.

The first coordinated fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance operation for 2021 called Operation Rai Balang was completed last week in eight Pacific nations.

A Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment study will be conducted in 15 Pacific Island countries, including Tonga to provide a snapshot of their primary school students’ grasp of basic literacy and numeracy skills.

In the Pacific Islands, evidence of climate change is all around us, but when dozens of images showing its impact across the Pacific come together in one room, it is sobering and challenging to the viewer. Photographs submitted by amateur photographers of all ages capture the immediacy of of the harmful effects of climate change, in a competition organised by the UK Government, on display in Nuku'alofa.

UPDATED: Fiji has received 12,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, making it the first Pacific Island country to receive a rollout under the COVAX facility. Around 6,000 frontline workers are expected to receive the first doses.

More than 100 seasonal workers left Tonga on a chartered flight for Australia this afternoon, February 25. Tonga has since last year been sending seasonal workers to Australia, despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and border closures.

The University of the South Pacific (USP) Council has extended the appointment of Dr Giulio Masasso Paunga as Acting Vice-Chancellor & President until further notice, following a special meeting held yesterday, 16 February. This follows the Fiji Government's sudden deportation of Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia earlier this month.

A positive CoViD-19 test was reported in Samoa on Saturday in a passenger who arrived in Samoa from California, USA, via New Zealand, on 12 February. Further tests are to be conducted on other passengers and staff who were involved with the flight and quarantine.