Conflict in the Middle East risks pushing Pacific Island Countries into an energy crisis, with around 80% of their energy reliant on mostly imported oil products. A new analysis on the impact of the conflict on oil prices and Pacific Island economies, released today, estimates that Tonga's annual refined fuel import bill could rise by USD 55 million (9% of GDP). Fiji's annual refined fuel import bill could rise by USD 670 million, a 115% increase from 2025 levels, while Vanuatu's refined petroleum import costs could surge by USD 120 million (11% of GDP).
You are here
Results for Pacific Islands
Wednesday 1 April 2026
Premium content
Sydney, Australia
Premium content
Tuesday 17 March 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon. Christopher Luxon and Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua have reaffirmed a strengthening partnership between New Zealand and Tonga, pledging closer cooperation on economic growth, law and order, and regional security. The leaders met for bilateral talks in Nuku'alofa today on key issues, including the global fuel crisis linked to Middle East tensions.
Premium content
Thursday 12 March 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon will visit Tonga next week, 17-18 March, in a Pacific Mission that will include a cross-party delegation of approximately 80 members.
Premium content
Monday 9 March 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga joins the Commonwealth family to celebrate Commonwealth Day on 9 March 2026 with cultural events, school activities and faith-based services.
Premium content
Sunday 8 March 2026
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
Cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease, remains a leading cause of cancer death among Pacific women. In parts of the Pacific, incidence rates are up to nine times higher than in Australasia. Now, a programme made possible through a NZ$5.1 million grant from the Matariki Fund will support locally led initiatives to prevent cervical cancer of women across the Pacific
Premium content
Friday 27 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Money laundering has become an increasing concern across the Pacific and Tonga following a surge in crimes linked to illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, said senior officials from the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) today, in Nuku’alofa.
Premium content
Wednesday 25 February 2026
London, UK
Australian photographer Jono Allen has been named the World Nature Photographer of the Year after capturing a rare and breathtaking image of a white humpback whale calf, known as Mãhina, with her mother, in the waters of Vava’u, Tonga.
Monday 23 February 2026
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery is set to launch its first Pacific Strategy this week at the 2nd Pacific Peoples Fono in the Community, hosted by The Cause Collective in Manukau, New Zealand.
Premium content
Sunday 22 February 2026
Premium content
Washington D.C., U.S.A
The United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will visit Hawaii, Tonga and two other Pacific Islands countries, Fiji, and Samoa for high-level meetings from February 22 to March 2, 2026.
Premium content
Friday 20 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A search remains underway for one man still missing at sea, Deputy Commissioner and Head of Tonga Police Maritime, 'Atunaisa Taumoepeau, confirmed to Matangi Tonga this morning, 20 February 2026. The update follows the rescue yesterday morning of two Tongans who had been missing at sea for more than ten days.
Premium content
Thursday 19 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two Tongan fishermen missing for days in a wooden boat, Mysterious Wonder, were dramatically rescued after a routine RNZAF surveillance flight turned into a life-saving mission in the Southwest Pacific.
Premium content
Tuesday 17 February 2026
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
Shot-put legend Dame Valerie Adams was formally welcomed into the sports hall of fame New Zealand at the Halberg Awards, last night, in Auckland.
Premium content
Monday 16 February 2026
Premium content
Nadi, Fiji
Miss Tonga, Siosi’ana Taumoepeau was placed third runner-up at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, after winning the best sarong award, a main judging category, in Nadi, on Saturday 14 February.
Premium content
Tuesday 10 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There's a moderate to high risk of Tonga being affected by at least one severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) by the end of the tropical cyclone season for 2025-26, during its peak between February to March 2026, says the latest seasonal outlook from Tonga Met released today.
Premium content
Thursday 5 February 2026
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Johann David Wadephul, has called for a more flexible, energetic and visible European Union presence in the Pacific, saying island states expect partners to move beyond shared values and deliver concrete action.
Thursday 5 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Commander Rose Apikotoa has become the first Australian of Tongan heritage promoted to the rank of captain n the Australian Navy at a ceremony in Canberra on 29 January, 2026, and will soon take up a new Canberra-based role as Chief of Staff to the Head of Military Personnel.
Premium content
Thursday 5 February 2026
Premium content
Apia, Samoa
Climate change remains the single greatest existential threat to Pacific people, according to SPREP Director General Sefanaia Nawadra, who regrets the United States’ recent withdrawal from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. “A lot of questions were asked about the implications, especially in the face of a fiercely contested region, geopolitically,” he said.
Premium content
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Justice Minister, Hon. Dr Viliami Latu and Solicitor General Sione Sisifa will attend the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, to will be held in Nadi, Fiji next week, from 9 to 12 February 2026. Outcomes are expected to help shape the agenda for this year's CHOGM. "The meeting takes place at a time when the rule of law is steadily declining around the world," the Commonwealth Secretariat stated today.
Premium content
Thursday 29 January 2026
Premium content
Auckland, New Zealand
Gout—a chronic condition that disproportionately affects Pacific populations – was the subject of an educational research project led by two Tongan academics, who partnered closely with Pacific groups in New Zealand.
Premium content
Thursday 29 January 2026
Premium content
Brisbane, Australia
Pacific Forum Troika leaders reaffirmed shared commitment to Forum unity, regional solidarity, and collective leadership in Brisbane, Australia yesterday, 28 January, their first in-person meeting this year.
Premium content
