New Zealand reviews its aid to Kiribati after the Pacific island nation snubs an official's visit

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand is reconsidering all development funding to the aid-dependent island nation of Kiribati, following a diplomatic snub from the island nation's leader, government officials said. The unusual move to review...

New Zealand to review aid to Kiribati after the Pacific Island nation snubs an official's visit

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand is reconsidering all development funding to the aid-dependent island nation of Kiribati, following a diplomatic snub from the island nation's leader, government officials said Monday. The unusual move to...

Fiji ready to welcome Kiribati President

[Source: Fiji Government/ Facebook] Kiribati President Taneti Maamau is on a state visit to Fiji from today until Thursday. In the spirit of Pacific Vuvale, Fiji will be officially welcoming the President tomorrow. In recognition of the importance...

NZ's relationship with Kiribati strained — aid fund under review

New Zealand’s relationship with the central Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has hit an all time low with the entire aid programme for the island country on hold while it’s reviewed because of a lack of "open dialogue". Also under the spotlight...

Fiji to welcome Kiribati President today

Fiji will be welcoming the President of the Republic of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, through a State visit this week. He arrives today and will depart on Thursday. In recognition of the importance of the longstanding relationship between Fiji and...

Global immigration news round up

This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent updates from Denmark, Hong Kong, Namibia, Portugal and Qatar. Denmark: No residence permits for nurse authorisations On 7 October 2025, the...

Prime Minister Eke tours ADV Reliant in Nuku’alofa

Just before his formal appointment, Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke days was hosted on Monday aboard Australia’s humanitarian vessel, ADV Reliant, during its Pacific mission to Tonga. The Australian High Commission in Tonga, HE Brek Batley, facilitated...

Judicial Appointments in Tonga and Laws Governing Same-Sex Relations in Pacific Island Countries 

Jennifer Corrin Jennifer Corrin is professor emerita at the Centre for Public, International, and Comparative Law at the University of Queensland, Australia. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily...

Claim the Kiribati Government ignores manifesto commitments

Ieremia Tabai MP from Nonouti. Tabai was the first Beretitenti President of Kiribati. Photo: Supplied/UNDP An opposition MP in Kiribati, Sir Ieremia Tabai, said the Budget, presented late last year, did not include any funding for the commitments...

Fiji committed to working closely with Kiribati

Fiji remains fully committed to working closely with Kiribati. This was articulated by the Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka while meeting the President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau on the margins of the 3rd FIPIC Summit in Port Moresby,...

How to watch Aston Villa vs Man City: live stream Premier League 2025/26 game, TV channels, preview

Two of the in-form teams in the Premier League meet this Sunday as Aston Villa take on Manchester City at Villa Park. The Villans may have been defeated by Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday night, but their EPL form has been...

Deputy PM in dash to Kiribati as diplomatic ban lifts

Richard Marles will become the first minister to visit Kiribati in almost two years after the Pacific Island nation temporarily closed its borders to foreign diplomatic trips. The deputy prime Minister and defence minister is travelling to...

How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: live stream Premier League 2025/26 game, TV channels, preview

Arsenal host Crystal Palace this Sunday afternoon, with the big talking point being Eberechi Eze’s return to face his former club. The 27-year-old was a talismanic figure for the Eagles after joining from QPR in 2020, but it was last season when...

Visit to Kiribati and Solomon Islands

Department of Defence Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel this week to Kiribati for high-level talks with the country’s re-elected Government, and will also travel to Solomon Islands. In Kiribati, the Deputy...

A war without war: China’s gray zone activity

[Ryan Robertson] THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA REALLY DOESN’T WANT THE UNITED STATES, OR ITS INFLUENCE, IN THE INDO-PACIFIC ANYMORE. IN FACT, THE PRC WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT’S THE DOMINANT FORCE IN THE REGION REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR...

A new addiction

When Cameron McLeod drank his first half coconut shell of muddy brown earthy-smelling kava in 2002, he knew it would taste bad. “But it tasted way worse than I thought it was going to taste,” he said, with a laugh. However, “the effect was almost...

China's Xi meets Kiribati leader after switch from Taiwan

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded Kiribati on Monday for “standing on the right side of history” during his first meeting with the Pacific island nation's leader since it severed ties with Taiwan. Kiribati switched allegiances to...

Opinion: Tonga’s PM Hu’akavameiliku throws in the towel

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is being held at one of the most difficult moments in recent history. At no time in post-Second World War history has the international environment been as challenging as it is...

Tonga’s new Prime Minister, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is being held at one of the most difficult moments in recent history. At no time in post-Second World War history has the international environment been as challenging as it is...

The year of the election – nationalism, populism, and trust in institutions

Opinion: In 2024, 64 countries were scheduled to hold different types of national elections this year for an array of offices. Some of these, of course, were more democratic than others, but it made for a bumper year for election nerds like me....