Pacific Islands

PNG will get a $5 million package to:

·         improve food security for about  500,000 people by providing seed stock for drought resistant crops; 

·         determine water and sanitation needs across at least six provinces in partnership with non-government organisations (NGOs);

·         support vulnerable groups including children, women and the elderly through church health services;

But Japan to many Papua New Guineans and the rest of the Pacific is synonymous with the World Wars and to the newer generation, fast cars and cool mobile phones.

And that’s perhaps where it ends.

Papua New Guineans are perhaps one of Japan’s biggest clients in its used car business. This is one subject well to do Papua New Guineans are well versed with.

Owning a car is about status, lifestyle on the high end. Japan not only makes it possible for first time buyers, it also offers by far the cheapest rates there is using the best marketing strategy there is.

“We have come from the Pacific Islands to celebrate the leadership of Pope Francis on climate change and to pray for the islands and the leaders that will decide our fate at COP21 in Paris,” said Koreti Tiumalu, 350.org’s Pacific coordinator.

“We brought mats from the islands made specifically for this journey which we used to pray on over the last three days in St. Peter’s Square. We wanted to offer these mats from the Pacific as a symbol of our gratitude for the Pope’s leadership and his encyclical—Laudato Si,” she added.

This comes after up to six months of well below normal rainfall had been received.

The forecast from New Zealand's NIWA and the Pacific Islands Meteorological Services says in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, after three months of very dry conditions, below normal rainfall can be expected through to the end of the year.

And it says New Caledonia can expect the below drier condition of recent months to continue through October to December.

It says countries in the central Pacific, such as Tuvalu and Kiribati, can expect little water stress in the next few months.

Representing Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Foreign Minister Pato raised the issues at a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders with the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Danny Russell in New York on Friday.

Minister Pato further expressed his desire for United States’ backing at the COP21 Conference in Paris this year on climate issues that are of vital significance to lives and communities in the Pacific.

Kiribati will next week host a summit that will also involve the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, the Maldives, Tokelau and others, brought together under the aegis of the Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation.

The Kiribati Government says the 'High Level Meeting on Climate Induced Migration' is about the countries affected taking action.

The Kiribati Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Akka Rimon, says sea level rise is happening and becoming more severe, and the atoll states want to ensure climate induced migrants are catered for in a dignified way.

This comes after up to six months of well below normal rainfall had been received.

The forecast from New Zealand's NIWA and the Pacific Islands Meteorological Services says in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, after three months of very dry conditions, below normal rainfall can be expected through to the end of the year.

The project will also help the countries manage and integrate various renewable energy sources into existing power systems.

Pacific Island countries have some of the world’s highest electricity prices, and each country spends as much as 25 percent of their gross domestic product to import petroleum in order to provide essential services.

The development agenda replacement for the Pacific Plan was endorsed in July last year and featured for the first time at the leaders summit in Papua New Guinea earlier this month.

The ANU's visiting fellow, Tess Newton Cain, says while the leaders succeeded in narrowing their focus to a handful of major issues facing the region, there is still a need for more transparency around processes and more inclusion in the discussions.

Statistics New Zealand has released its latest population projections which indicate overall trends.

The Pacific population is expected to make up 11 percent of the total population in 2038 compared with eight percent in 2013.

Much of the population will be based in Auckland and will increase its presence there by three percent to comprise 18 percent of the city's population in 2038.