
Last month was the annual 51st Pacific Islands Forum when our neighbours to the East met. Do you know anything about this inter-government agency and what they talk about? Are Australia or New Zealand even members?
4ZZZʻs Eliot Rifkin and Toni Pankaluic chatted about the Pacific Islands Forum with Tess Newton-Cain an Associate Professor at Griffith Asia Institute who attended the Forum.
For a deep dive…
Check out Tess Newton-Cain’s bio and the Pacific Hub project she leads at Griffith Asia Institute. Read their latest research on how China engages with Pacific island countries when it comes to climate change.
For more on what The Pacific Island Forum is: brief background or an in-depth summary. Discussed at the most recent forum was the 2050 Blue Pacific Continent Communique Strategy. For further commentary on this year's forum, here is a blog co-written by Tess.
Here are some recent articles regarding Australia's relationships with the Pacific islands region:
To gain a basic overview of the three island regions from the Pacific:
August 25 was the national recognition day of when the Commonwealth Government formally recognised Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinct cultural group. For more on the history and importance visit here.

Your 11am Zedlines update with Ash, Angela and Maddie.

Your 10am Zedlines with Calani and Konrad

Your 9am Zedlines with Angela, Ash and Maddie

Your 8am Zedlines with Calani and Konrad

Your 11AM Zedlines with Liv, Charlie, Annabel and Jasper

Your 8am Zedlines with Liv, Charlie, Annabel and Jasper.

Your 11am Zedlines with Megan, Anastasia, and Sydney

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mario and Aliyah

Your 9am Zedlines with Sydney, Meghan and Anastasia

Your 8am Zedlines with Mario and Aliyah

Your final 11AM Zedlines with the Summer 2026 Friday Zedliners, read by Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)!

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Ethan and Yuchen (Image via Pexels).

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Charlie and Dan (Image via Flickr).

Your 10AM Zedlines with Sarah, Vivek, Eden and HG
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Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec, Stella, Em, and Vivek
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Your 8AM Zedlines with Sarah, Stella, Alec, and Em
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Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgia and Cass

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie

Your 8AM Zedlines with Georgie and Lachlan.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)