Oceania

National office vacancy average rate has reached 15% as the market fails to absorb the offer of new towers and demand remains weak in key cities; many fear that if working from home came into law it would also slow recovery of the hospitality sector

80% of Ni-Vanuatu are farmers, and PM Jotham Napat acknowledged the work of these men and women, the backbone of the nation, during Vanuatu’s 45th Independence Anniversary celebrations

The Samoa Law Society is calling for electoral rights to be upheld to ensure a free and fair election; in view of upcoming Samoa’s general election on 29 August it reminded that “Universal voting rights are the cornerstone of a democratic country"

The first Nauru citizenships have been granted under new Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program: announced at COP29, it allows investors a second citizenship while supporting climate adaptation and sustainable development in the South Pacific

Students and teachers from Gawa School in the Reef Islands have voluntarily cleaned up the runaway in Lomlom Airport to avoid isolation across Temotu Province, after Solomon Airlines suspended all flights as overgrowth compromised safety of the airstrip

A glimpse of Auckland Transport's future era was unveiled as a new map at Britomart Station gives commuters a preview of the new stops and links available when the long-awaited City Rail Link will open; over-budget and over-time, CRL is nearing completion

Enabling ePassport access through New Zealand’s SmartGate system, in line with the arrangement already in place with Australia, has been proposed: it would streamline travel for Fijian passport holders and support more efficient border control processes

Officers from the Nauru Police Force were joined Fiji Police Headquarters for a two-week attachment program supported by UNDP Pacific Office through Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, within regional actions to empower law enforcement

The Micronesian Presidents’ Summit 2025, a key regional gathering of Heads of State and Government from the regions, has been hosted on Kiritimati Island, one of the world’s largest coral atolls, part of the Line Islands in eastern Kiribati

The first Tikopean New Testament Bible lhas been presented to the Tikopian community: the awaited edition, known as Te Rongo Laoi - which means “The Good News” in Tikopean - has been celebrated with a ceremony at St. Francis Anglican Church

Of 12 medals won by the Marshall Islands during the Pacific Mini-Games in Palau earlier this months, wrestlers played the lion part gaining 4 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze

A proposal from the US to relocate third-country asylum seekers has been firmly rejected by Palau’s National Congress and the Council of Chiefs, with leaders saying that being a strong US ally it can't overpromise or commit to what it can't fulfill

George “Fiji” Veikoso, a musician, a cultural icon, a voice for the people whose voice touched hearts across the Pacific and beyond has passed away; Polynesian Music has announced it on its social media page