Under the Cook Islands constitution, New Zealand cannot pass laws for the Cook Islands.
Photo: Supplied / PMN
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands and New Zealand have begun talks about defence and security issues.
It comes after the two governments signed a pact last month, ending a spat which developed last year over the Cook Islands forging a deal with China without consulting Wellington.
Cook Islands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration hosted officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence and Defence Force last week, where discussed moves to share information and align regional security interest and priorities.
Cook Islands Foreign Affairs and Immigration secretary Elizabeth Wright-Koteka said the visit is intended to be the first of many to strengthen security cooperation.
Papua New Guinea
A former finance secretary in Papua New Guinea has won a lawsuit against the government for malicious prosecution.
Steven Gibson was arrested and fired in 2014 after being accused of enriching himself from departmental funds.
The government has been ordered to pay Gibson around US$22,000, including for nearly 13 years of stress and anxiety, and injury to reputation.
Judge John Carey said in his ruling prosecution was being used as an instrument of pressure or harassment against Gibson.
Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister James Marape is standing by the decision to back the country’s incoming NRL franchise.
The PNG Chiefs are set to join the Australia-based rugby league competition in 2028, but the government is being criticised for prioritising the Chiefs over other responsibilities.
Marape said the franchise gives the diverse nation a common cause, alongside the flag, national anthem, Constitution and shared identity.
He said the team will help stimulate tourism and the economy, with plans to spread benefits beyond Port Moresby into other parts of PNG.
The Chiefs will join the New Zealand Warriors as the competition’s other non-Australian-based team.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is banning alcohol sales this week ahead of the second anniversary of rioting over proposed electoral reforms.
Two years ago on 13 May, riots took place in Noumea, ultimately leaving 14 people dead and causing widespread damage.
The government said the ban will prohibit the sale of takeaway alcoholic beverages and public consumption with exceptions at the international airport.
The ban starts today and ends on Sunday, 17 May.
New Caledonia
France’s Pacific Ambassador Véronique Roger-Lacan is supportive of a New Caledonian study into how safe nickel mining byproduct – known as ‘slag’ – is to export to Pacific Island nations.
New Caledonia’s territorial government said the study could bring economic and regional benefits.
Multiple Pacific nations have shown interest, though Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Tonga are cautious over environmental impacts.
Roger-Lacan said island nations currently dredge lagoons or blow up reefs to source sand or aggragate for their concrete.
Tonga
Tonga’s tourism minister has been convicted of electoral bribery, but he says he will appeal.
PMN reported Semisi Sika admitted the payment was made but he says it was a “good faith” mistake.
The Supreme Court found the Tongatapu 2 people’s representative guilty after he failed to declare a $10,000 Tongan pa’anga payment to a local academy, weeks before the 2025 election.
The amount is equivalent to just over US$4000.
Sika said the donation was personal, as his nieces are members of the academy, but the court ruled the timing and nature of the payment breached electoral laws.
Under Tongan law, a bribery conviction usually means an MP must be unseated.
Samoa
Air New Zealand says travel to Samoa will continue as usual after the government suspended refuelling for certain international flights.
The airline said the suspension only applies to unscheduled flights and private jets.
The Samoan government said the country has sufficient stock for around 80 days worth of jet fuel and up to 60 days worth of petrol and diesel.
Air New Zealand has previously cancelled four flights to Samoa since eaerly April due to rising fuel costs.
Samoa/New Zealand
Migrants who come to New Zealand through Samoa pathways will be exempt from a new citizenship test.
The Samoan Quota resident visa offers 1100 spots annually to live and work indefinitely.
The government has announced a test for other immigrants seeking citizenship that will begin in 2027.
Applicants will have to correctly answer 15 out of 20 questions relating to various responsibilities and privileges, including knowledge of New Zealand law.
Those with birthright or New Zealand descent will also be exempt.
Fiji
The Consumer Council of Fiji says transparency is important as the country navigates the fuel crisis.
The council is calling for independent scrutiny regarding Energy Fiji Limited’s proposal to implement an 11-cent surcharge per kilowatt hour.
The council said it recognises the impact of fuel costs, but an 11-cent increase – on the current tariff of 34 cents per kilowatt hour – represents a significant rise.
Its CEO Sheema Shandil said a family using 300kWh per month could face an additional $33 on their bill.
She said consumers must not be made to carry an unchecked or poorly explained cost burden.
Shandil wants more information made available before any surcharge is considered.
Fiji
Clinics in Ba area have opened upgraded water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
The upgrades were supported by South Korea and Unicef.
Unicef said progress has been made in hospitals nationwide, but conditions in clinics and nursing stations remain uneven.
According to a 2024 monitoring update, although 94 percent of hospitals in Fiji have basic water services, this is not the case in frontline clinics, where access is often limited or unreliable.
Seventy-nine percent of healthcare facilities have limited sanitation, and only 42 percent have basic handwashing facilities.
The improvements will benefit more than 11,000 people living in the communities served by these clinics.
Northern Marianas
The American Red Cross is widening their financial support for survivors of Super Typhoon Sinlaku in Marianas.
The typhoon devastated the islands of Saipan and Tinian in April, with so far only about half of Saipan residents having safe and reliable access to water.
The Red Cross has been supporting emergency shelters and distributing emergency supplies.
Marianas Variety is reporting citizenship will not be required for the Red Cross’s incoming financial support program to help fund home repairs.
Other programs by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency or Small Business Administration are tied to immigration or citizenship status.
Northern Marianas
Thousands of residents in the Northern Marianas have applied for federal aid in the wake of Typhoon Sinlaku.
The Pacific Daily News reports business and nonprofits can apply for up to $2 million to repair facilities or offset lost revenue.
Besides individual disaster grants, residents can also apply for low-interest loans from the US Small Business Administration to help replace damaged property or repair homes, as well as seek aid from the American Red Cross.
It comes as more than US$250 million of federal spending from fiscal year 2020 to 2022 is being questioned.
Governor David Apatang said this is not slowing down the response, and his administration continues to work to close out several years of backlogged audits and questioned costs.
