Pacific Waves

Tonga's snap election dampens women's representation hopes; New Zealand's foreign minister stresses the importance of the Pacific Islands Forum; An academic says North Korea's threats are harrowing for people on Guam; A union says new public service contracts in Fiji threaten job security; And, a Tuvalu climate change group lambasts Australia's support for coal.

Last month's dissolution of Tonga's Parliament by royal decree brought forward the elections by a year, and with it hope for some, that historic change could be on the way.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has stressed the importance of the Pacific Islands Forum as he heads to Apia for the Forum Leaders Meeting.

A Guam academic says North Korea's threats are "harrowing" for those without blind faith in the US military; Many detainees say no to a compensation deal between the Australian government and refugees on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island; A Fiji unionist says new public service contracts threaten job security; The Tuvalu action network says Australian coal is putting Pacific communities at risk; And there's surprise at the absence of a number of Pacific leaders from this year's Pacific Islands Forum.

A Guam academic says North Korea's threats to launch missiles towards the US territory are harrowing for those on the island who do not have blind faith in the US military.

The head of Fiji's public service union says members' job security is threatened by new contracts he says have been foisted upon public servants.

The Tuvalu Climate Action Network is condemning Australia for its continued promotion of the coal industry saying it is putting Pacific communities at risk.

Petition for West Papuan independence vote to go to UN; 'Ava ceremony opens Forum in Apia; Indonesian president looks at West Papua dialogue; Keeping the Tongan language alive in NZ; Pacific Health Ministers focus on NCDs; FFA urges caution over new tuna data.

Australian court has approved a compensation deal between the Australian government and its detainees on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island but several hundred detainees have opted out of receiving the settlement.

The director of Pasifika at Massey University, Malakai Koloamatangi, is surprised by the absence of a number of Pacific leaders from this year's Pacific Islands Forum.