In the latest edition of the Pacific Islands focus column, Isabelle Zhu-Maguire – PhD candidate and Croakey Health Media Member – reports on the impacts of the fuel crisis in the Pacific region, as well as providing an update on dengue fever, gender inequality in politics and a boost for social welfare.
Isabelle Zhu-Maguire writes:
The fuel crisis is having significant impacts upon people in the Pacific Islands, with higher fuel costs resulting in families needing to make tough decisions on where household budgets get spent.
In Papua New Guinea, families are deciding between school or food; in Vanuatu, families are portioning meals and growing their own produce; and in countries impacted by recent cyclones, disaster recovery has become more expensive, report Philippe Brewster, Pacific Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment Technical Adviser at Save the Children Australia, and Kristyn Lobendahn, Regional Pacific Communications Lead at Save the Children Australia.
“As fuel prices rise globally, Pacific Island countries are particularly exposed,” they wrote in DevPolicy Blog. “With most food, fuel, medicines and basic supplies imported, higher fuel costs are driving up living costs and tightening household budgets.”
In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), utility prices have doubled. Still reeling from the devastation of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, CNMI now has the highest electricity prices in the United States.
In the Marshall Islands, electricity prices increased by 11 percent in May. “The power rate increases are expected to result in local businesses passing on the costs of the 21 percent electricity rate hike to [Marshallese] consumers,” according to RNZ Pacific.
The Cook Islands’ government has focused its response to the crisis on public messaging, making an appeal to the public not to panic buy, and to only purchase the amount of fuel needed. This appeal from the Office of the Prime Minister has come as the three fuel suppliers in the Cook Islands have recorded higher-than-usual demand, leading to concerns about stockpiling.
In May, the Australian Government gave Fiji $30 million as targeted budget support to subsidise the cost of fuel and help Fiji become a hub for fuel in the Pacific. This funding was provided as Australia and Fiji wrapped up negotiations of a major strategic pact, the Vuvale Union.
Alongside this funding boost, Fijian lawmakers voted for a 20 percent mandatory pay cut for all 55 members of parliament to also relieve fuel crisis-related pressure on the budget.
I reached out to several Pacific health institutions to investigate the impacts on health service, access and delivery; unfortunately no replies were received by the time of publication.
Social welfare boost
In the Cook Islands, the 2026/27 National Budget, which was tabled in May, included a $3 million boost for social welfare.
As reported by Rashneel Kumar for Cook Islands News, this boost includes higher welfare payments, extended parental leave, increased newborn and destitute allowances, a new minimum wage, expanded child benefits and a first-home builder program.
No new cases of dengue fever have been reported in the Cook Islands since the end of April, according to Secretary for Health Bob Williams. However, cases have been notified in Tonga, New Caledonia and Samoa.
Pacific states which are in free association with the US are still facing uncertainty about healthcare provisions for US veterans. This is despite US Congress authorising in-country services by the US Veterans Administration for veterans of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau. The Trump Administration suspended ongoing talks to implement services over a year ago.
During the recent Hantavirus outbreak, one US citizen who was a ‘contact’ was quarantined in the Pitcairn Islands in the Southern Pacific after a short transit in Tahiti. Arriving from San Francisco, the passenger had briefly transited in Tahiti and Mangareva on 7 May 2026 (local time) “without neither local authorities nor the French State being informed”, according to RNZ.
A statement by the French Polynesia Government said in May: “The person concerned does not present any (Hantavirus) symptom and is presently isolated in quarantine in Pitcairn”, and that they would closely monitor the situation. No further updates have been provided.
Gender violence and inequality
This section includes discussion of violence against women.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat has called for the country’s firearms laws to be reviewed following a fatal shooting in an act of alleged domestic violence. Women’s advocacy groups are calling for the Vanuatu Protection Act to be reviewed and strengthened, according to Islands Business.
In Papua New Guinea, new efforts are being made to address the chronic lack of women in PNG’s parliament. A new law has been introduced by PNG’s Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission, which requires that women make up ten percent of parties’ endorsed candidates. There are currently three women MPs in PNG’s 111-seat parliament. Since the country gained independence 50 years ago, only 10 women have been MPs.
In Niue, the May election saw a record-breaking seven women elected to the 20-seat Fono Ekepule parliament. The historic result has the island nation surpass the 30 percent ‘critical mass’ threshold, often set by the United Nations.
Climate justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change, a case led by Pacific advocates, was voted on at the United Nations General Assembly for endorsement – 141 countries voted in favour, eight against and 28 abstained. Those voting against included Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Yemen.
Some good news from the Solomon Islands: newly elected Prime Minister Mathew Wale has reinstated a ban on dolphin exports – two days after it was quietly lifted. The ban was lifted during recent uncertainty in Solomon Islands Parliament by care-taker Fisheries Minister Bradley Tovosia on his way out the door. The ban encompasses live dolphin exports and dolphin meat. Exporters face a SBD$100,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment.
Also in the Solomon Islands, Tropical Cyclone Maila which hit land in April 2026, has washed up unexploded WWII bombs. Inspector Clifford Tunuki, from the country’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, told ABC Pacific Beat this serves as a stark reminder of the clearance work that still has to be done.
In PNG’s New Ireland province, a mysterious contamination of seawater is posing a risk to marine life and human health. PNG’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority has found evidence of abnormal water chemistry, traces of heavy metals, and evidence of algal blooms, likely linked to land-based activities and fish mortality. The contamination has impacted sardines and reef fish most.
An agreement between the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry and the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited was formalised at the ministry’s headquarters in Raiwaqa. The partnership between Fiji and Aotearoa/New Zealand aims to strengthen food security, farmer resilience and climate-smart agriculture across Fiji.
Geopolitics
In early May, diplomatic tensions were high between Vanuatu and New Caledonia. New Caledonia suspended its trade relations with neighbouring country Vanuatu after the ni-Vanuatu government hosted the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in Port Vila.
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front was invited to attend talks under the theme “VOICE 2030” (Vanuatu Opportunities for Investment and Caledonian Enterprises) dedicated to exploring the strengthening of trade relations with the French Pacific territory.
Several New Caledonian business leaders attending the forum decided to return home immediately in protest. New Caledonian MP Nicolas Metzdorf accused Vanuatu of “openly mocking” New Caledonia.
However, despite this row, a New Caledonian freight vessel made news for delivering goods to Port Vila only a few days after trade relations were supposedly cut.
Vanuatu was also in the news for agreeing to security pacts with both China and Australia in May. The long awaited Nakamal Agreement between Vanuatu and Australia was finalised after amendments were made due to Vanuatu’s concerns about sovereignty. A Nakamal is a traditional meeting place in Vanuatu (see image here).
Vanuatu’s Council of Ministers also approved the Namale Agreement with China. Little is known about the agreement, but Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has said that it has “nothing to do with security” and was focused on “strategic cooperation”.
In Nauru, public servants and government bodies have been ordered by the Nauruan Cabinet to follow One China principle. According to RNZ Pacific, the order advised officials to “avoid using terminology, symbols, flags, emblems, or representations which are inconsistent with the One China Principle”. Nauru is one of the latest countries in the world to switch recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China, changing bilateral relations in 2024.
Finally, Australia’s budget in May saw little change for the Pacific. ABC’s Pacific Beat has done a great explainer.
Further reading
Read this collection of additional reading on regional Pacific politics, economic news and sport.
About the author
Isabelle Zhu-Maguire is a PhD candidate at the Coral Bell School of Asia and Pacific Affairs, Department of International Relations within the Australian National University. Her thesis investigates the ways in which Australia listens and responds to the climate advocacy of Pacific Island Nations.
She has conducted extensive research into the experiences of women in Afghanistan and their perspectives and realities living through conflict, oppression, and climate change.
Isabelle has also been advocate for greater youth inclusion within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. She was elected a member of Croakey Health Media in December 2025.
Croakey thanks and acknowledges Isabelle Zhu-Maguire for providing this column as a probono service to our readers.
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