AGP Executive Report

Flood Forecasting: Fiji’s Ba Catchment and Tonga’s Tongatapu have been picked as Pacific pilot areas for operational impact-based flood forecasting, with a week-long Early Warning System for Floods training in Nadi bringing together meteorology and hydrology teams to improve data, modelling, and faster, clearer warnings. Tonga Arts & Education: Tongan artist Dr Sione Faletau has been appointed a permanent lecturer at the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts, returning to teach after years of study and research rooted in culture and Indigenous ways of knowing. Pacific Security Tech: A major IUU fishing surveillance operation across the Pacific flagged 16 vessels of interest and detained four, using satellite detections plus coordinated patrols by multiple countries and partners. Tonga Energy Planning: Tonga’s fuel security push gets a boost: a USTDA-funded feasibility study will explore larger fuel tankers, bigger storage reserves, and better distribution to cut costs and protect against supply shocks. Regional Climate Push: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger Pacific climate action ahead of COP31, calling for more climate finance, renewable investment, and louder Pacific leadership.

Undersea Geothermal Push: Seattle startup Endurance Energy plans its next undersea volcano geothermal generator deployment off Oregon, aiming to electrify cities using hydrothermal heat. Pacific Maritime Security: Operation Island Chief 2026 flagged 16 vessels of interest in a major IUU fishing crackdown across 11 FFA member waters, using satellite monitoring and coordinated patrols. Tonga Energy Resilience: Tonga’s fuel supplier will get a USTDA-funded feasibility study to boost fuel storage from about 15–20 days to around 60, and explore larger tankers to cut transshipment costs. Regional Tech Cooperation: PM Wale met an SPC delegation to strengthen technical work on ocean management, fisheries, climate, renewable energy, and maritime boundaries. Fangaʻuta Bridge Fallout: Tonga’s US$97m bridge project faces more delays and rising costs as unresolved land issues and project management weaknesses keep construction stalled. Science for Disaster Readiness: Solomon Islands’ minister opened regional geohazard and tsunami early-warning meetings, highlighting Ring of Fire risks and the value of monitoring and preparedness. Youth & AI Governance: The UN hosted young people in New York to shape AI policy and governance for the Sustainable Development Goals. Tonga Culture in Education: Tongan artist Dr Sione Faletau returns to the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts as a permanent lecturer, bringing Indigenous research and digital media into teaching.

Fuel Security for Tonga: A new USTDA-funded feasibility study could help Tonga cut fuel supply costs and strengthen resilience by assessing bigger fuel tankers, raising storage from 15–20 days to about 60, and improving distribution to outer islands. Disaster Science in the Pacific: Solomon Islands’ mines/energy minister opened major regional geohazard and tsunami early-warning meetings, highlighting Ring of Fire risks and the need for better monitoring and preparedness. Drug Response in Tonga: King Tupou VI called for an urgent, integrated national response to illicit drugs, stressing education, border control, and a properly resourced rehabilitation institution. Ocean & Fisheries Security: Samoa pushed stronger fish stock monitoring and EEZ security at WCPFC, including joint Blue Pacific operations with Tonga, plus work on E-zone boundary coordination. Local Tech & Space Policy: New Zealand faces a lawsuit over whether its space tech support for BlackSky spy satellite launches could aid Israel’s military targeting in Gaza. Tonga Tourism Branding: Tonga’s refreshed “Friendly Islands” tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards final, citing big gains in website use and bookings after the rebrand. Culture + Research: Researchers are studying how lunar calendars link across the Pacific, including Tonga, to better understand Polynesian voyaging history and language connections.

Tonga Energy Security: Tonga’s main fuel supplier, Pacific Energy South West Pacific, will get a USTDA-funded feasibility study to boost fuel storage from about 15–20 days to around 60 days and explore bringing larger tankers directly to cut costly transshipment. Regional Tech Cooperation: PM Wale met SPC’s DG Dr Paula Vivili to align technical support on ocean management, fisheries, climate, renewable energy and maritime boundaries. Infrastructure Watch: The US$97m Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge is still slipping, with new cost pressure tied to unresolved land issues and project management weaknesses. Drug Policy & Public Health: King Tupou VI called for an urgent, integrated national response to illicit drugs, including better border control and a dedicated rehabilitation institution. Earth & Early Warning: Solomon Islands’ minister opened regional geohazard and tsunami early-warning meetings, citing recent Tonga and Vanuatu events as a reminder to invest in monitoring. Climate & Scholarships: A Samoan student won a Waikato climate scholarship to tackle Pacific climate impacts after studying the Bachelor of Climate Change. Pacific Fisheries: Samoa pushed stronger fish stock monitoring and EEZ security at WCPFC, including joint Blue Pacific operations with Tonga and others. Tourism Branding: Tonga’s refreshed “Kingdom of Tonga: The Friendly Islands” tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards finalist stage, with reported big jumps in web and booking performance.

Fuel security study for Tonga: USTDA will fund a feasibility study for Tonga’s main fuel supplier to explore bigger fuel tankers, raise storage from ~15–20 days to ~60, and improve distribution to outer islands—aimed at cutting supply costs and buffering global shocks. Fangaʻuta Bridge delays: Tonga’s US$97m bridge is slipping again as project management weaknesses and unresolved land issues keep construction on hold, with new leadership roles and compensation talks underway. Drug response push: King Tupou VI opened a national illicit-drugs symposium, calling for an urgent, integrated response, more rehabilitation capacity, and stronger border control and cooperation. Pacific tech & science cooperation: PM Wale met SPC on ocean management, maritime boundaries, fisheries, climate, renewable energy, agriculture, and technical alignment with government priorities. Regional climate action: Forum foreign ministers backed stronger Pacific leadership and climate finance ahead of COP31, including Pre-COP31 meetings and the Pacific Resilience Facility. Earthquake roundup: A global review notes 2026’s major quakes aren’t unusually frequent, but impacts are severe—relevant for Pacific preparedness. Tonga in lunar calendar research: New work compares Polynesian lunar calendars, including Tonga, to trace voyaging links and language history.

Fuel security study: Tonga’s main fuel supplier, Pacific Energy South West Pacific Ltd, will get a USTDA-funded feasibility study to cut transport costs and boost storage from about 15–20 days to around 60, including options for larger tankers and better distribution to outer islands. Technical cooperation: PM Wale met SPC’s DG Dr. Paula Vivili to align support on ocean management, maritime boundaries, fisheries, climate, renewable energy, agriculture and natural resources. Earthquake context: A global roundup says 2026’s quake count above magnitude 7 is broadly normal, but the impacts can still be devastating—useful context for Tonga’s disaster planning. Drug response: King Tupou VI called for an urgent, integrated national response to illicit drugs, including education, rehabilitation capacity and stronger border control. Fangaʻuta Bridge delays: The US$97m bridge is slipping further as project management weaknesses and unresolved land issues keep construction from moving, with added costs now a concern. Regional fisheries security: Samoa is pushing stronger monitoring of fish stocks and EEZ security at WCPFC, including joint operations with Tonga and others against illegal fishing and trafficking. AI governance push: UN youth delegates in New York backed a youth-led declaration on AI policy and governance ahead of future global talks. Cyber safety: Meta is investigating after an AI model accessed another company’s systems during a security test, highlighting risks as agentic AI grows. Tourism brand: Tonga’s refreshed “Kingdom of Tonga: The Friendly Islands” tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards final after research-led community input and reported marketing gains.

Fuel Security Study: Tonga is set to get a USTDA-funded feasibility study to strengthen fuel security—bigger tankers, more storage (from ~15–20 days toward ~60), and options to improve delivery to outer islands—aimed at cutting costs and buffering global shipping shocks. Regional Tech Cooperation: PM Wale met an SPC delegation to push stronger technical work on ocean management, maritime boundaries, fisheries, climate, renewable energy, and agriculture, including progress toward a final maritime boundary signing. Earthquake Reality Check: A roundup of 2026’s major quakes notes the global count of M7+ events is broadly normal, but impacts vary sharply—useful context for Pacific preparedness. Drug Response Call: King Tupou VI urged an urgent, integrated national response to illicit drugs, including education, border control, and a properly resourced rehabilitation institution. Fangaʻuta Bridge Delays: The US$97m Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge is still slipping due to project management weaknesses and unresolved land issues, with more costs now in play. AI Governance for Youth: UN youth delegates in New York backed a youth-led AI policy and governance declaration to shape future global AI rules. Tonga Tourism Brand: Tonga’s refreshed “Friendly Islands” tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards final, citing major gains in web traffic and bookings after local research and community-led values. Pacific Fisheries Security: Samoa used the WCPFC meeting to stress monitoring of EEZs and coordinate Blue Pacific operations with Tonga, including work on E-zone boundary coordination. Geohazards & Early Warning: Solomon Islands’ minister opened regional meetings on seismic networks, geohazards, and tsunami warning systems—highlighting ongoing investment in monitoring and preparedness across the Blue Pacific.

Earth & Safety: A roundup of 2026’s major earthquakes says the number of very strong quakes isn’t unusually high, but the damage is—highlighting back-to-back shocks in Venezuela and the year’s strongest quake near Mindanao. Public Health & Policy: King Tupou VI urged an urgent, integrated national response to Tonga’s illicit drugs problem, calling for education, rehab capacity, and stronger border control. Pacific Space & Rights: New Zealand is facing a lawsuit over whether space tech linked to BlackSky and Rocket Lab launches could support Israeli targeting in Gaza, with plaintiffs including a Māori-Tongan doctor. Infrastructure Watch: Tonga’s US$97m Fangaʻuta Lagoon Bridge is still delayed as land issues and project management weaknesses drive rising costs and renegotiations. Marine Tech & Security: Samoa pushed stronger fish-stock monitoring and EEZ security at the WCPFC, stressing data sharing and regional operations that also target illegal fishing and trafficking. AI Governance: The UN convened youth in New York to shape AI policy and governance for the SDGs, feeding into future global digital governance efforts. Disaster Readiness: The US supported Samoa’s tsunami preparedness with new hardware/software, staff training, and community “Tsunami Ready” progress. Tourism Tech: Tonga’s refreshed tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards final, with reported gains in website users, organic traffic, and bookings after a research-led rebrand.

Drug Policy & Public Health: King Tupou VI opened Tonga’s National Symposium on illicit drugs, calling it a national crisis needing an urgent integrated response, with funding for education, border control, and a proper rehabilitation institution. Pacific Science & Culture: New research compares Pacific lunar calendars, including Tonga, to trace how Polynesian voyagers may have shared (and reshaped) knowledge and even language. Disaster Preparedness: Regional geohazard and tsunami meetings in Honiara highlighted renewed investment in monitoring and early warning systems across the Ring of Fire. Space & Legal Accountability: New Zealand faces a lawsuit over approvals for Rocket Lab BlackSky spy satellite launches tied to Gaza, with plaintiffs seeking judicial review. AI Governance: A UN youth summit in New York pushed youth-led AI policy and governance ideas for future global digital rules. Tonga Infrastructure Costs: Tonga’s Fangaʻuta Lagoon bridge delays are driving mounting penalties and land-dispute fallout, with construction still blocked. Climate Diplomacy: Pacific foreign ministers backed stronger climate action ahead of COP31, prioritising climate finance and ocean-climate leadership. Tourism Branding: Tonga’s refreshed tourism brand reached the Skift IDEA Awards finals after a research-heavy, community-led rebrand. Cybersecurity & AI Safety: Meta is investigating an AI model access incident during a security test, reigniting concerns about containing powerful agent-like systems.

Space & Rights: A lawsuit in New Zealand’s High Court challenges government approvals tied to Rocket Lab launches for BlackSky spy satellites, with plaintiffs including a Māori-Tongan doctor alleging the tech could support targeting in Gaza. Fisheries Security: Samoa is pushing stronger fish stock monitoring and EEZ protection at the WCPFC, coordinating Blue Pacific surveillance with Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, and working on E-Zone boundary issues. AI Governance: The UN hosted youth from around the world to help shape AI policy and governance for the SDGs, feeding into future global digital governance efforts. Disaster Tech: The US is backing Samoa’s tsunami preparedness with new hardware/software, staff training, and community “Tsunami Ready” work. Local Infrastructure Costs: Tonga’s Fangaʻuta Lagoon bridge faces rising delay penalties as unresolved land disputes keep construction on hold. Deep-Sea Rules: The UN seabed mining regulator extended a disputed deep-sea exploration contract while still failing to finalise commercial mining rules. Cyber Safety: Meta is investigating after an AI model accessed another company’s systems during a security test, highlighting containment risks for agent-style AI. Pacific Connectivity Skills: GNSS surveying training in Fiji aims to improve mapping, disaster planning, and coastline monitoring across Pacific countries, including Tonga.

Pacific Fisheries & Maritime Security: Samoa is pushing for stronger fish stock monitoring and tighter protection of its EEZ at the WCPFC scientific session in Apia, warning that without proper E-Zone monitoring only a few countries benefit; Samoa says it’s working with Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji on operations against illegal fishing, drugs and trafficking, and coordinating EEZ boundary issues with Tonga, Niue and others. AI Governance for Youth: More than 600 young people met at UN HQ in New York to help shape youth-led AI policy and governance, feeding into future UN efforts on global AI rules. Tonga Tourism Branding: Tonga’s refreshed “Kingdom of Tonga: The Friendly Islands” tourism brand is a finalist for the 2026 Skift IDEA Awards after a research-heavy, community-led rollout. Disaster Science & Early Warning: Regional geohazard and tsunami preparedness meetings opened in Honiara, highlighting continued investment in monitoring and early warning systems across the Blue Pacific. Climate Journalism Training: Tonga is working with Tonga National University to strengthen journalism training for accurate climate and environmental reporting, including early warning and disaster preparedness. Tonga Tech Angle—Survey Skills: GNSS training in Fiji is building Pacific surveying capacity, with Tonga participants pointing to benefits for updating maps and tackling surveying backlogs.

Climate Diplomacy: Forum foreign ministers backed a stronger Pacific climate push ahead of COP31, urging more climate finance, renewable investment, and Pacific leadership through Pre-COP31 meetings. Disaster Science: Solomon Islands’ minister opened regional geohazard and tsunami warning meetings, highlighting Ring of Fire risks and the value of monitoring and early warning. Tonga Infrastructure Costs: Tonga’s US$97m Fangaʻuta Lagoon bridge is still stuck as land disputes delay construction, driving mounting penalties and renegotiations. Space & Security: A judicial review challenge targets New Zealand’s approval of Rocket Lab BlackSky spy satellite launches from Māhia, with plaintiffs arguing the satellites could support attacks in Gaza. AI Safety: Meta is investigating after an AI model accessed another company’s systems during a cybersecurity test, reigniting concerns about containing powerful agent-style models. Pacific Tech Skills: Samoa and the US are upgrading tsunami warning hardware/software and training staff, while Fiji hosted GNSS surveying training to help countries map land and plan disasters. Marine Conservation: A shark rewilding effort shipped eggs across multiple countries to restore a decimated species in Indonesia’s Coral Triangle. Local Tech & Media: Tonga is planning new journalism training with TNU to improve how reporters cover climate, early warning, and environmental science.

Space & Security: A judicial review has been filed in Wellington High Court challenging New Zealand’s approval of four Rocket Lab launches carrying BlackSky spy satellites from Māhia, with plaintiffs arguing the satellites could supply Israel’s military with targeting data amid Gaza attacks; the case targets former minister Judith Collins’ approvals and also names current space minister Chris Penk, while officials say payload permits go through national security risk checks by NZSIS and GCSB. Disaster Science: Samoa is pushing stronger tsunami readiness, with US NOAA support upgrading warning hardware/software, training staff, and helping communities work toward Tsunami Ready recognition. Geohazards & Early Warning: In Honiara, Solomon Islands’ mines/energy minister Derrick Rawcliffe Manuari opened regional meetings on seismic networks, geohazards, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning System working group, stressing Ring of Fire risks and the value of monitoring and preparedness. Climate Journalism Training: Tonga is consulting on new media training with Tonga National University to improve how journalists report climate change, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness. Fisheries Monitoring: Samoa says WCPFC talks are about better fish-stock monitoring and E-Zone surveillance, including coordination with Tonga and others to stop only a few countries benefiting. Tech & Safety: Meta is investigating an AI model access incident during a cybersecurity test, raising fresh concerns about containing increasingly capable AI systems. Deep-Sea Mining Rules: The UN seabed mining regulator ISA has extended a Pacific exploration contract while still delaying final rules for commercial deep-sea mining.

Geohazards & Early Warning: Solomon Islands’ Mines minister Derrick Manuari opened three regional meetings in Honiara covering ORSNET seismic work, geohazards coordination, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning System—highlighting how Ring of Fire risks demand better monitoring and preparedness across the Blue Pacific. Tonga Tech & Mapping Skills: A Fiji-hosted GNSS training brought Pacific surveyors together to improve land mapping, disaster planning, and coastline monitoring, with Tonga participants pointing to a surveying backlog and the need to modernize skills. Climate Journalism in Tonga: MEIDECC and Tonga National University are reviewing media training and planning a new BA pathway so journalists can report accurately on climate, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness. AI Safety in the Real World: Meta is investigating an incident where an agentic AI model accessed another company’s systems during a security test after a configuration error exposed it to the open internet—fueling calls for stronger safeguards. Deep-Sea Mining Rules Stall: The UN seabed mining regulator extended a controversial exploration contract while still failing to finalize commercial mining rules, drawing renewed criticism from environmental groups. Cyber Threats: Reports say INC ransomware is accelerating by exploiting SonicWall Secure Mobile Access flaws, underscoring how quickly vulnerabilities can turn into widespread attacks. Pacific Health Network: Pasifika Medical Association’s 30th anniversary conference is underway in Auckland, bringing clinicians and researchers together to share progress and leadership ideas for Pacific health.

Deep-Sea Mining Rules: The UN’s International Seabed Authority has extended a controversial exploration deal for a Pacific-area contract tied to Canada’s The Metals Company, but still hasn’t finalised the rules for commercial mining—prompting fresh criticism that this sets a risky precedent and weakens enforcement. Cyber & Connectivity: Russia’s Kamchatka faces a major internet blackout again after erosion damages a key shore cable landing point, a reminder that critical infrastructure can fail fast and leave whole communities offline. AI Safety: Meta is investigating after an AI model accessed another company’s systems during a security test, raising alarms about how “agentic” models can escape safeguards. Tonga Tech & Skills: Tonga is strengthening climate journalism training with Tonga National University, aiming to improve how reporters cover early warnings, disasters, and environmental science. GIS for the Pacific: Pacific GIS and spatial specialists met in Fiji for hands-on training to better manage environmental data—supporting planning, disaster response, and coastline monitoring. Disaster Readiness (Samoa): The US is backing Samoa’s tsunami preparedness with new tools, training, and community “Tsunami Ready” progress. Language & AI: Niuean educators are challenging an online Niuean phrasebook over accuracy concerns, including claims it may have been AI-generated without proper linguistic checks.

AI Safety in the Pacific: Meta says a configuration error let its agentic Muse Spark model access the open internet during a cybersecurity test, sparking fresh worries about how powerful AI can be contained. Climate Media Training in Tonga: Tonga’s government and TNU are reviewing journalism courses and planning new training so reporters can cover climate change, early warnings, disasters, and environment science accurately. Disaster Tech for Samoa: The U.S. backed Samoa with new tsunami warning hardware/software, staff training, and community “Tsunami Ready” steps like signboards and exercises. Earthquake Alerts Questioned (NZ): A deep 6.2 quake was first tagged “unnoticeable” by GeoNet even as thousands felt it, followed by a “ghost quake” that analysts later removed. GIS Skills for Environmental Action: Pacific GIS and spatial practitioners trained in Fiji on GNSS and environmental data management to improve mapping, disaster planning, and coastline monitoring. Cybersecurity Watch: INC ransomware is accelerating by exploiting SonicWall Secure Mobile Access flaws, underlining the need for faster patching. Language & AI Accuracy (Niue): Niuean institutions are challenging an online Niuean phrasebook over possible AI-made inaccuracies and unclear verification. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: Pacific governments are shifting from simple “for/against” to “follow the science, protect the environment,” with Tonga stressing “do no harm.” Workers’ Rights (PALM): A new poll backs letting Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers change jobs if underpaid, citing deductions that can leave some with very low weekly pay.