Results for Pacific Islands

Pacific leaders have issued a unified call for urgent global action to protect the world’s largest tuna production region from the accelerating impacts of climate change. This message was reinforced at the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France during a side event on Tuesday, 10 June, co-hosted by the Government of Niue and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

Tonga has reasserted its commitment to protecting marine life and advocating for the legal and ethical recognition of whales as fellow beings of the ocean, to mark World Oceans Day. HRH Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho represented the kingdom at the Launch of “I’m a Person Too” Campaign at UNESCO Ocean Literacy Pavilion in Nice, France yesterday, 9 June.

Tonga is committed to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and to the wellbeing of its citizens working in Australia, HE Curtis Tu‘ihalangingie, the Acting Tonga High Commissioner, told a workshop and exhibition day held in Canberra recently. The event held at the Australian National University showcased the positive impacts of the PALM scheme from a Tongan perspective and addressed the challenges.

Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Tonga today and reaffirmed Australia's commitment as Tonga's largest development and security partner. During her tour of three Pacific countries, she acknowledged the region's growing challenges, particularly climate change. “The Pacific peoples speak with authority on climate, and your voice should be heard in the world,” she stated.

Fisheries officials and delegates from the members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), are gathering this week at the Millenium Hall in Alofi, Niue, for the 138th Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Annual Officials Meeting. The five-day meeting offers an important opportunity for members to shape the direction of sustainable tuna fisheries management in the Pacific region.

Researchers have calculated that the 2022 explosive eruption of Tonga's Hunga volcano emitted almost 19 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide, but because the eruption started at least 400 m below sea level, most of the sulfur was erupted into the ocean. The submarine explosions injected an unprecedented amount of seawater into the atmosphere, while sulfur and other volcanic products went into the sea. The researchers say this raises questions about the impact on marine life, and that the long-term effects of seawater on the atmosphere are also unclear.

A high-level advocacy mission to the United States this week, is led by Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General. Baron Waqa, who are seeking to secure capitalisation pledges for the new Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF).

“The global and regional development landscape is evolving very fast, and the only way we can navigate this successfully is if we stay united as a region,” said the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke, while attending the PIF Troika this week, in Nadi, Fiji. Leaders will discuss a range of regional priorities.

New Zealand and Tonga are exploring opportunities to strengthen their bilateral relationship and enhance diplomatic and development cooperation. New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, along with a cross-party delegation, met today, 11 April, in Nuku'alofa with Tonga's PM, Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke, and the Tongan Cabinet to discuss these opportunities. Peters earlier met Tonga's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence HRH Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala.