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Campaign currently before cabinet for approval

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, September 1, 2015) – Tourism operators in Vanuatu are urging government to prioritise the launch of a major marketing campaign currently before Cabinet for approval.

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce says the campaign will see the Pacific destination making it onto TV screens and papers in Australia and New Zealand in a big way.

The Chamber's tourism spokesperson, Bryan Death, says six months after Cyclone Pam tourist numbers in the country are still to recover.

Mr Death says this is partly because of the continued closure of some of the countries major hotels but he says operators are hoping the new campaign will boost numbers.

"It's keeping it at the top of mind for the people that are watching TV or looking at Travel ads in Sunday newspapers. These plans have been well thought out by a consultant that we brought in. And in conjunction...

PIDF to sign Suva Declaration on climate change

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, September 2, 2015) – Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has accused Australia of undermining the Pacific Islands Development Forum.

He was speaking to delegates gathered for the opening of the Forum in Suva on Wednesday.

The Forum was set up by Fiji three years ago for discussions on sustainable development among Pacific leaders, civil society and business.

It has been seen as a response to Fiji's suspension from the more established regional agency, the Pacific Islands Forum.

Mr Bainimarama told the gathering it is time for the Australian Government to stop undermining the PIDF by actively lobbying regional governments and regional leaders not to attend.

He reiterated the PIDF is a complementary grouping and because of its inclusiveness has influenced reform at the older agency whose members meet in Port Moresby next...

Lack of capacity to distribute aid for remote areas

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, September 2, 2015) – There are unconfirmed reports from Chimbu Province in Papua New Guinea that 24 people have died as a result of the severe drought hitting the Highlands.

The Chimbu provincial disaster co-ordinator, Michael Ire Appa, says he understands the deaths, which are yet to be confirmed, are due to a lack of food and poisoned water.

He says the figures could go higher.

"It's a bit hard to confirm but I think it's positive because the drought has been here for almost three months now and in areas that were affected by the drought, there's a serious food shortage, including water, and some of the districts have not report, so there my be more than that."

Michael Ire Appa says up to 80,000 people are in immediate need in his province with thousands also threatened by the drought.

He says about five tons of rice and...

Estimates of 300 workers, suspect overstaying

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, September 2, 2015) – The Tonga Government is changing the way workers are selected for the Australia seasonal work programme after it estimated several hundred have absconded since the scheme began.

The Internal Affair Minister, Fe'ao Vakata says one contractor told him 74 of his workers had disappeared before the contract was up and he estimated that of 1400 Tongans in total across Australia about 300 had gone.

He says he suspects they are now overstaying.

Mr Vakata says at the moment contractors can come to Tonga and recruit their workers with no government oversight but this will now change.

"We will recruit from the villages and if the contractors come with their own list we still have to take them back to the villages, to the town officers and the council, to confirm that they know the person, he is genuine and reliable, he will...