AGP Executive Report

Ocean Protection: The Bezos Earth Fund is directing more than US$25 million to conservation across five Pacific nations, including Vanuatu, where support will help identify important ocean habitats. Pacific Arts: Port Vila’s first Wan Pasifika Festival brought together performers from across the region on October 10, blending music and cultural performances with a call for climate action. Skills and Education: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19–22, welcoming competitors from across the Pacific, Asia and Timor-Leste as it pursues a place in the WorldSkills network. Climate Action: Pacific leaders secured new regional resilience and renewable-energy funding ahead of COP31, including Australian support for Vanuatu’s renewable-energy transition.

Ocean Conservation: The Bezos Earth Fund is granting more than US$25 million for Pacific marine protection, including work to identify and safeguard important habitats in Vanuatu. Island Travel: New travel advice highlights Vanuatu as an easy add-on to a Great Barrier Reef diving trip, with short flights connecting the destinations. Pacific Arts: Port Vila’s first Wan Pasifika Festival brought artists and performers from across the region together on October 10, blending music and culture with a call for climate action. Skills and Culture: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19–22, building on its effort to combine practical training with cultural activities. Clean Water: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day on October 15 will raise funds for water and sanitation projects in Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands.

Wan Pasifika Festival: Port Vila’s inaugural festival brought Pacific musicians and cultural performers together on October 10, pairing music and tourism with a message of climate action. Air Niugini helped bring artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Skills and Training: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19 to 22, with participants from across the Pacific, Asia and Timor-Leste. The event aims to raise the profile of vocational training among young people. Ocean Protection: More than US$25 million in Bezos Earth Fund grants will support Pacific marine conservation, including habitat mapping and stronger ocean oversight in Vanuatu. Clean Water: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day fundraiser will support water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands, including climate-resilient water systems. Coastal Ecosystems: A new regional research project will study how reefs, mangroves and seagrass connect, with work in Vanuatu to help guide conservation and restoration.

Pacific Culture: Port Vila’s first Wan Pasifika Festival brought artists and cultural performers from across the region together on October 10, pairing music and tourism with a call for climate action. Air Niugini helped bring performers from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, including reggae star Anslom Nakikus. Skills and Education: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19 to 22, welcoming competitors from across the Pacific, Asia and Timor-Leste as it seeks a place in the WorldSkills network. Marine Conservation: A Bezos Earth Fund grant is backing protected-area work across the Pacific, including in Vanuatu, where funding will help identify priority marine habitats and strengthen ocean oversight. Clean Water: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day fundraiser will support water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands, including climate-resilient water systems.

Ocean Protection: Jeff Bezos’ Earth Fund has allocated more than US$25 million for Pacific marine conservation, including support for Vanuatu to identify priority habitats and strengthen ocean oversight. Pacific Arts: Port Vila hosted the inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival on October 10, bringing artists from across the region together for music, culture and climate action. Skills & Culture: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will welcome competitors from the Pacific, Asia and Timor-Leste for its skills competition, October 19–22. Organisers say the event builds on last year’s blend of practical skills and culture. Customs & Heritage: A regional feature explores secondary burial traditions, in which families later cleaned and reburied the bones of the dead—reflecting Pacific views of continuing ties between the living and their ancestors. Vanuatu’s Voice: The government condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s mocking remarks over Vanuatu’s claims to Matthew and Hunter islands, calling them racist and neo-colonial.

Pacific Arts: Port Vila’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival brought artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands together for music, culture and climate awareness. Skills & Education: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19–22, featuring trades such as welding, cookery and electrical work. Climate Action: At Fiji’s pre-COP talks, Australia announced funding to support Vanuatu’s renewable-energy transition as Pacific leaders pressed for stronger climate commitments. Kastom & Identity: On Constitution Day, President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged traditional leaders to guide communities through kastom. Vanuatu also condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist remarks amid a dispute over the islands of Matthew and Hunter.

Wan Pasifika Festival: Port Vila hosts the inaugural festival today, with Air Niugini bringing artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to share Pacific music and culture and promote climate action. Skills and Culture: Vanuatu Institute of Technology’s international skills competition runs October 19–22, bringing regional competitors together and blending practical training with culture. National Identity: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s “racist and neo-colonial” remarks, which mocked the country and its sovereignty claims over Matthew and Hunter Islands. Respecting Local Customs: South Pacific cruise passengers are urging fellow travellers to dress appropriately when visiting island communities and respect local traditions. Climate Action: Pacific climate talks in Fiji brought pledges for resilience, renewable energy and infrastructure, including Australian support for Vanuatu’s renewable energy transition.

Skills and Culture: Vanuatu Institute of Technology will host an international skills competition from October 19 to 22, bringing competitors from across the Pacific, Asia and Timor-Leste. The event combines practical training with culture and aims to make technical education a first choice for young people. Wan Pasifika Festival: Port Vila hosts its inaugural festival today, with music and performances from across the region celebrating Pacific culture and raising awareness of climate change. Pacific Traditions: A new feature explores secondary burial customs, where families return to the dead after burial to clean and rebury their bones — a practice reflecting enduring ties between the living and their ancestors. Cultural Identity: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist, neo-colonial remarks about the country and its sovereignty claims. Nakamal in New Zealand: A planned public artwork in Blenheim will draw on the nakamal, a Pacific gathering place, with Vanuatu workers helping shape the design.

Pacific Arts: Air Niugini is flying artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to Port Vila’s first Wan Pasifika Festival on Oct. 10, where music and culture will carry a climate-action message. Climate & Community: Australia pledged A$7.29 million for Pacific renewable energy, including Vanuatu, at Fiji’s Pre-COP talks. A UNICEF fundraiser will also support clean-water projects for children in Vanuatu and other Pacific nations. Culture Abroad: A planned public artwork in Blenheim draws on the nakamal, a Pacific gathering place, with design input from seasonal workers. Respectful Travel: South Pacific cruise passengers are calling on visitors to dress respectfully in local towns and honour community customs. Identity & Self-Determination: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist, colonial-era taunts after the country asserted sovereignty over Matthew and Hunter islands. On Constitution Day, President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged citizens to uphold democracy and the guidance of kastom.

Culture for Clean Water: UNICEF Aotearoa’s Pacific ‘Fits Day invites workplaces to wear Pacific-inspired clothing on October 15 and raise funds for clean water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Vanuatu, Kiribati and Solomon Islands. Respecting Local Customs: Cruise passengers are urging fellow visitors to dress appropriately in South Pacific towns and respect local traditions. Coastal Protection: Vanuatu is among the locations in a new regional project linking research on coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass, with local and Indigenous communities involved in conservation planning. Regional Arts: Air Niugini is helping artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands attend Vanuatu’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival, which promotes culture and climate action. Climate Action: Pacific leaders secured fresh resilience and renewable-energy commitments ahead of COP31, including Australian support for Vanuatu’s shift to renewable energy. Sovereignty and Kastom: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist remarks, while President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged citizens to uphold the Constitution and called on traditional leaders to guide communities through kastom.

Climate Action: Pacific leaders are heading toward COP31 with renewed calls for climate finance and ocean protection. Australia announced renewable-energy support for the region, including help for Vanuatu’s transition. Culture & Community: Air Niugini is helping artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands attend Vanuatu’s inaugural Wan Pasifika Festival, which brings culture and climate action together. Regional Identity: Vanuatu joined Pacific calls for a UN mission to New Caledonia, citing hardship facing Kanak communities. The government also condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist, colonial-era attack on Vanuatu and its sovereignty claims. Constitution Day: President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged citizens and leaders to uphold democracy, unity and the Constitution, and called on chiefs to guide communities through kastom. Ocean Protection: A new Bezos Earth Fund grant supports marine conservation work in Vanuatu and four other Pacific nations.

Wan Pasifika Festival: Air Niugini is helping artists from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands travel to Vanuatu for the inaugural festival, which brings Pacific culture and climate action together. Climate Voices: Young people from Vanuatu and across the Pacific are urging Australia to turn climate promises into action, while a sparsely attended pre-COP meeting in Fiji and Tuvalu has raised concerns about how seriously world leaders hear Pacific priorities. New Caledonia: Pacific countries are calling for a UN visiting mission and backing the territory’s right to self-determination, with Vanuatu highlighting pressures on Kanak communities. Sovereignty and Respect: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s mocking, racist remarks over its claims to Matthew and Hunter Islands. Constitution Day: President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged leaders and citizens to uphold democracy, unity and the rule of law, and called on traditional leaders to guide communities through kastom. Pacific Heritage: A planned public artwork in Blenheim will draw on the nakamal, a shared gathering place described by Pacific workers from their home villages. Ocean Protection: More than US$25 million in Bezos Earth Fund grants will support conservation across five Pacific nations, including efforts to identify and protect important marine habitats in Vanuatu.

New Caledonia: Vanuatu, representing the Melanesian Spearhead Group, backed calls for a UN visiting mission to assess political uncertainty and hardship facing Kanak communities, and reaffirmed their right to self-determination. Youth and Climate: Young people from Vanuatu and across the Pacific challenged Australia to turn climate promises into action ahead of COP31, warning that Pacific communities already face rising seas and worsening climate impacts. Constitution Day: On October 5, President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged leaders and citizens to uphold democracy, national unity and the rule of law, while calling on chiefs to guide communities through kastom. Sovereignty Dispute: Vanuatu condemned a New Caledonian lawmaker’s racist, neo-colonial remarks after he mocked its claims to Matthew and Hunter islands. Ocean Protection: The Bezos Earth Fund pledged grants for conservation projects in Vanuatu and four other Pacific nations, supporting efforts to identify and protect important marine habitats. Pacific Culture Abroad: A planned public artwork in Blenheim, New Zealand, will draw on the nakamal—a raised gathering place described by Vanuatu workers—as a shared Pacific tradition.

Pacific Climate Push: Young people from Australia and the Pacific, including Vanuatu, have urged Australia to “turn commitments into action” ahead of COP31, pointing to hotter summers, collapsing ecosystems and the gap between promises and fossil-fuel expansion. COP31 Pre-Meet in the Pacific: Leaders and delegates have begun climate meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu as a curtain-raiser for COP31, with talk of a Pacific declaration on fair representation and guaranteed funding for small island states. Climate Displacement in Vanuatu: Cyclones have left families in temporary tents after Nabavatu was declared unsafe in 2021, highlighting how rising seas and extreme weather are driving displacement across the Pacific. Constitution Day & Kastom: Vanuatu’s President Nikenike Vurobaravu called on leaders, chiefs, churches and citizens to renew commitment to the Constitution, uphold democracy and keep kastom guiding communities. Island Sovereignty Clash: Vanuatu condemned a “shameful, racist, neo-colonial rant” by a pro-France New Caledonian lawmaker over Vanuatu’s claims to Matthew and Hunter islands. Women’s Craft to Business: The M4C Fiji Pacific Women Makete 2026 showcased Pacific women entrepreneurs, including Vanuatu participants, turning traditional skills into new market opportunities. Pacific Jobs Link: Japan’s labour shortage is opening pathways for skilled Pacific workers, with officials stressing balanced immigration and careful management of social impacts. Ocean Conservation Funding: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25 million for ocean protection across Pacific nations including Vanuatu, supporting marine habitat and protected-area efforts.

Labour & Work Rights: A new Labour Rights Index 2026 says countries are generally strengthening worker protection, with Pakistan’s Punjab Labour Code 2026 potentially boosting its score sharply—an encouraging sign for “decent work” even as enforcement gaps remain. Pacific Labour Mobility: Japan’s ageing population and labour shortages are creating openings for skilled Pacific workers, but officials stress immigration must be managed carefully and fairly. Constitution Day & Civic Duty: Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged leaders, chiefs, churches and citizens to renew commitment to the Constitution—linking democracy, rule of law, unity and kastom guidance. Vanuatu–France Tensions: Vanuatu condemned a “shameful, racist, neo-colonial rant” by a pro-France New Caledonian lawmaker over Matthew and Hunter Islands sovereignty, defending Vanuatu’s status as a sovereign nation. Climate & Housing Reality: Pacific climate talks in Fiji and Tuvalu are ramping up ahead of COP31, while cyclone-displaced families in Vanuatu still wait in temporary tents after unsafe land declarations. Ocean Conservation: Bezos Earth Fund announced $25 million for ocean protection across five Pacific nations including Vanuatu, backing Pacific-led efforts to safeguard marine habitats. Culture & Community Craft: A Pacific women’s makete in Fiji highlighted entrepreneurship and traditional skills, connecting vendors from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Constitution Day Call: President Nikenike Vurobaravu urged Vanuatu’s leaders and citizens to renew their commitment to the Constitution, stressing democracy, rule of law, unity, and shared responsibility from Parliament to chiefs and churches. Pacific Climate Push: Pacific countries meeting in Fiji ahead of COP31 demanded the world deliver on climate promises, with Australia pledging $7.29m for renewables and talks hinting at a push for fair climate governance and funding. Vanuatu–France Tensions: Vanuatu condemned a pro-France New Caledonian lawmaker’s “racist, neo-colonial” rant over Matthew and Hunter Islands, saying Vanuatu is not a French province and rejecting colonial framing. Climate Displacement Reality: Reports from the Pacific highlight families living in temporary tents after cyclones made villages unsafe, showing how climate change is driving displacement and breaking community life. Women’s Craft to Business: The M4C Fiji Pacific Women Makete 2026 brought together women from Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to trade skills and grow enterprises, with a focus on women’s economic empowerment. Ocean Conservation Grants: The Bezos Earth Fund announced $25m for ocean protection across Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, backing marine protected areas and habitat protection.