Regional Archive September 2026
10 articles
Drought may raise risk of sorcery accusation violence in PNG, researchers write
Researchers say drought losses can trigger sorcery accusations in Papua New Guinea and that planning for the coming El Nino should include prevention measures, in an article on the Devpolicy Blog.
Pacific advocates press for women's voice in water decisions before COP31
Research by WaterAid and the University of Technology Sydney found Pacific activists rank the exclusion of women from water and climate decision-making as the root cause of other gendered climate impacts.
Tongan graduate first Pasifika student to finish Auckland commerce and sport conjoint
Meleana Payn is the first Pasifika student to graduate with a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, the university said.
Tuvalu and Ireland outline plans for 2027 fossil fuel transition conference
Tuvalu and Ireland set out their vision for the Second Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, to be co-hosted in Tuvalu in 2027, at a side event of the UN General Assembly in New York on 25 September.
PNG needs private sector alongside public health system, CPL chairs write
Papua New Guinea's health challenges are too large for government to carry alone, Stephanie Copus Campbell and Sir Mahesh Patel wrote on the Devpolicy Blog, arguing for partnerships with safeguards rather than privatisation.
ULMWP says six West Papuans killed, urges UN General Assembly to take up case
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said six West Papuans were killed and four wounded by the Indonesian military, and called on the UN General Assembly to raise West Papua. The claims are not independently verified.
Sāmoan astrophysicist graduates with first physics PhD at Auckland university
Dr Sean Richards graduated on 22 September as the first Sāmoan to complete a PhD in Physics at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, with doctoral research on how stars evolve and die.
Australia caps backpacker visa extensions, opening room for PALM, Howes says
Development Policy Centre director Stephen Howes said Australia's cut of 84 per cent to third-year backpacker visa extensions granted for regional work is a significant opportunity for the PALM labour mobility scheme.
Leigh urges governments to fund only the programmes evidence shows work
In an address to Asian Evaluation Week in Manila, Australian Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh said rigorous evaluation should decide which programmes are scrapped and which are scaled up.
Pacific Delegations Press Fisheries Priorities at FAO Committee in Rome
Pacific Island countries and territories used the 37th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries in Rome to call for stronger international support for regional fisheries systems, SPC said.