Wellington mayoral candidate Rob Goulden clashes with debate organiser
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Scoop
21 minutes ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands PM calls for pause on Forum dialogue partner meeting
Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has made his case as to why at least twenty countries should be essentially blocked from a key Pacific meeting in Honiara next month. Speaking for the first time to media since news broke of his plans, Jeremiah Manele proposed that Pacific Islands Forum leaders defer the annual dialogue partner meeting till next years' summit in Palau. China and the USA, along with 19 other countries, are Forum dialogue partners. The plan is something Palau's President - a vocal supporter of Taiwan Surangel Whipps Jr backs. Manele insists partners are not being excluded rather his proposal is purely operational with a review into the Pacific's regional architecture not yet finalised. The review is the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. "What we are saying here is, let's give some more time for the region to put the process a new process in place so that we can effectively engage with our partners going forward, not now, but the later stage, once we are ready," Manele told local media in a press conference Friday local time. "It's a decision that we take based on the region's interest." Manele went on to explain how he went through appropriate channels -- first meeting with the Troika (the past, present and future hosts of the PIF leaders meeting) who've endorsed his proposal. He said now it's up to the rest of the leaders to have their say: "We understand this decision requires sacrifice, including foregoing special guest invitations during this forum, but it is necessary to ensure engagement is conducted through a robust, transparent and strategic mechanism that reflects our priorities, protects our sovereignty and strengthens our collective voice globally," Manele said. Observers will still attend, including bodies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the UN agencies. No pressure from China? Manele dismissed claims that China/Taiwan tensions are to blame. "We acknowledge public concerns and media narratives regarding Forum matters, but let me be very clear, Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation," Manele said. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine joined leaders from Tuvalu and Palau in strongly worded comments putting the region on notice that the future unity and stability of the Forum hangs in the balance of decisions that are made for next month's Forum leaders' meeting in the Solomon Islands - just three years since the organization pulled back from the brink of splintering. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the PIF meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communiqué which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this year, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan." In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy, raising eyebrows in Palau. However Manele insists this is not about geopolitics, rather a proposal based on the region's interest: "Decisions related to the Pacific Islands Forum are made collectively by Forum members through established processes grounded in the Pacific way, emphasizing respect dialog and consensus."
Scoop
21 minutes ago
- Scoop
CNMI to request 60-day extension on comment period for US military's plans for the territory
, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) wants more time for residents to share their thoughts about the United States military's plans for the territory. CNMI's delegate to the US Congress Kimberlyn King-Hinds said the CNMI administration will be requesting a 60-day extension on the comment period for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Mariana Islands Training and Testing and CNMI Joint Military Training. "I know that the governor will be submitting a request for an additional commenting period, 60 days," she said. She said CNMI's leaders might have to sit together and be very strategic in terms of responding to the plans. The first-term congresswoman said the draft EIS is the CNMI's best opportunity to make requests on the impact of heightened military activities in the Commonwealth and the mitigations that need to be built in. "I do know there are a lot of conversations happening both in the House and the Senate with regards to additional footprints here today and making additional investments, whether it be the port rehabilitation at the roads back to the North Field. "But that we should put our collective heads together and work with the governor and have a firm statement, a firm statement in terms of specific asks in response to the EIS," she added. King-Hinds said she agreed with Senator Jude Hofschneider's comment during the town hall meeting that the impact of the CJMT will be significant on Tinian. She said that is why the CNMI should make its specific asks now, so those requests can be included in the National Defense Authorisation Act. "I've been tracking and communicating with Alan Perez [Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan's chief of staff] with regards to some of the asks for remaining funds for the roads, for example. And so, you know, there's more than one way to skin the cat, and we're all, we're doing it all. "I'm really happy that the governor, if you know what I mean, is down to put our heads together and begin to work," she said. Last month, four community groups from the CNMI and Guam-From Luta, For Luta, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Tinian Women's Association, and Our Common Wealth 670-as well as dozens of concerned community members and the diaspora, called for a 45-day extension on the comment period for the Draft EIS. The original draft EIS 75-day public review and comment period started on 6 June and its deadline is 20 August. Aside from the Apatang-Mendiola administration's request for an extension, King-Hinds also discussed and answered a myriad of questions from the around 50 people in attendance during the townhall meeting. The venue of the From the Hill to the Vill event-the Tinian Youth Center-represented King-Hinds' first foray into government services as she served as its director in the early 2000s. During her time as head of the Tinian Youth Center, King-Hinds said she used creative ways to pay staff by seeking the help of the Work Investment Agency. The center also used to have a swimming pool, and she commissioned a replica of the Washington Monument on its premises-a portent of things to come as far as her political career went.
1News
4 hours ago
- 1News
Luxon and Albanese discuss 'geopolitical tensions' during annual talk
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Queenstown this afternoon at the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. The two leaders have spoken about "geopolitical tensions, issues of trade and economic relationships, and conflict in the world," Albanese said. Albanese — accompanied with his fiancée Jodie Haydon — was welcomed with a pōwhiri by Ngāi Tahu, which he thanked as "warm" and "generous". He said it was his third visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister but had been "many more times than that" over "many, many years". Saying the last time he was in Queenstown, he came with a backpack on "to this extraordinary, beautiful part" of not just New Zealand, but the world. ADVERTISEMENT Economic challenges, security and defence, and regional and global issues were on the agenda for the two leaders. (Source: 1News) Albanese agreed with Luxon "about the uncertain world that we're in, and there's no question that that is the case". "There is one thing that's certain, that is Australia and New Zealand stand together." He said the two countries have a "seamless economic relationship" between "our family, the Pacific Island family". New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcoming Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting in Queenstown. (Source: 1News) Luxon has said Australia is our only ally and a vital economic partner, "with two-way trade of $32 billion, I look forward to discussing what more we can do as we tackle economic challenges on both sides of the Tasman". Albanese said he hoped "this is the first of many very successful meetings that will happen here to advance the interests of New Zealanders here domestically, but also in international forums as well." ADVERTISEMENT Luxon later said in a statement that he "valued the discussion about our respective economic plans. The crossover between New Zealand's Going for Growth agenda and Australia's productivity agenda provides plenty of cooperation opportunities". Luxon answers questions on Gaza and China Luxon and Albanese both agreed that they wanted to see a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution when asked about the ongoing conflict with Israel. When asked if Australia would recognise Gaza as a state Albanese responded, "it's a matter of when not if". He said Australians "want to see a ceasefire, they want the killing to stop they want to see the hostages released and they want to see peace in the region". Luxon agreed, saying the military action and lack of humanitarian aid "violates humanitarian law". "The military action we've seen in not the answer... it comes through diplomacy and dialogue." ADVERTISEMENT "That's why you've seen both of our foreign ministers sign a statement today... to make that very clear". Luxon also spoke about both countries "successful visits" to China recently which is a "significant player in the world and a prominent feature in global affairs". "We have an approach of co-operating where we can agree and disagree where we must. "We have different systems, different values and we'll stand up for those at different times, but partners talk about the difficult stuff and talk the differences too, that was the nature of my conversations with the Chinese leadership."
