Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Independent State of Samoa, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-eighth session. Photo: UN Photo/Cia Pak
Samoa - UNGA
The climate crisis and geopolitical tensions has been the focus of Pacific Island leaders statements delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told delegates a number of unprecedented natural disasters had occurred over the past year.
"We will continue to face these ever worsening disasters if we continue to deny addressing their root causes," she said.
"Scientists have warned of more frequent and many more extreme weather events resulting in more lives lost and costlier and less resilient infrastructure."
Cook Islands - forum
The Cook Islands government is remaining tight-lipped over how much it has budgeted for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in November.
Preparations are underway with the meeting being hosted in Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration told Cook Islands News the government is making headway in preparations to host regional leaders and their delegations.
Cook Islands news reports it is expected to cost $NZ150 relying on funding support from Australia, People's Republic of China, New Zealand and other development partners.
Jobs for VIP Transport Drivers and VIP Liaison Officers have been advertised.
The drivers and liaison officers will be responsible for transporting the visiting leaders and officials in the 25 recently purchased Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles, which cost the country $NZ1.75-million.
Kiribati - port
The Kiribati Ports Authority is working on a master plan for its port redevelopment and expansion.
Ports Authority chief executive Ruatu Titaake told Radio Kiribati its current port does not have enough berthing space to accommodate the number of local ships which is continuing to increase.
The closure of the Charlie wharf is adding more strain on berthing space.
Titaake said Australia would be funding the project and Australian engineers will conduct a feasibility study on Betio port.
They are expected to arrive in the country in October and spend six to eight months doing the feasibility study.
Pacific - climate
The Pacific Community has gone to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the threat climate change is having on the marine environments of the Pacific.
The statement from the Pacific Community, or SPC, was presented to 21 judges on the Tribunal.
Marshall Islands Climate Change Envoy Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner said if we do not act with sufficient urgency and ambition within this decade, within these next 7 years our people will suffer for thousands of years.
Jetnil-Kijiner also emphasised the need to listen to the science and realities of communities on the ground.
The opinion from the Tribunal is expected in the coming months.
Tonga - diplomacy
Tonga and Vietnam have established diplomatic ties for the first time.
The foreign ministers of both countries formalised the joint communiqué with a signing ceremony in New York.
It occurs as leaders from all over the world gather in New York for the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Vietnam's foreign minister Bui Thanh Son says his government proposed cooperation in areas of trade and tourism.
US/Pacific - diplomacy
US President Joe Biden is set to establish diplomatic ties with the Cook Islands and Niue.
Biden is hosting Pacific Island leaders at the two-day US Pacific Island Forum Summit in Washington this week.
The Cook Islands and Niue are currently overseas dependencies of New Zealand and have not pursued UN representation.
