AGP Executive Report

Political Shake-Up: Jeremiah Manele has lost power after a no-confidence vote, and Matthew Wale—an opposition figure known for past criticism of the CCP—now takes the top job, ending months of uncertainty. Regional Media Tension: Australia is drawing fire for cutting or refusing to guarantee funding for transnational news services across the Indo-Pacific, leaving some neighbours with fewer trusted outlets as other major broadcasters face pressure too. Culture & Community: Solomon Ports Authority is gearing up for a big 70th anniversary summit and celebrations on 3–4 June, while NATPAN 2026’s theme—“Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles”—puts panpipe heritage front and centre. Sports & Youth: The Kakamora Games kick off in Kirakira, chess gets a new chief arbiter ahead of Sunday’s tournament, and Belaga communities plan an Independence Day soccer knockout. Arts Spotlight: A local story highlights how Chris Kawage turned military life into a full-time painting career.

Indo-Pacific Media Diplomacy: Australia is drawing fresh backlash for refusing to guarantee ongoing funding for transnational news services across the region, leaving many Pacific neighbours with fewer trusted sources as other major broadcasters face funding pressure. Solomon Islands Ports: Solomon Ports Authority (SIPA) is set to mark 70 years of service with a summit on 3 June 2026 in East Honiara, plus exhibitions and panels on the past, present and future of port operations. Arts & Identity: A new feature spotlights Chris Kawage’s shift from soldier to full-time storyteller through painting, while a regional documentary on colourism is reigniting conversations about skin tone and discrimination. Sports on the Move: Makira Ulawa’s Kakamora Games 2026 kicked off in Kirakira, and the Solomon Islands Chess Federation has named a new Chief Arbiter ahead of Sunday’s tournament. Culture Calendar: NATPAN 2026’s theme, “Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles,” puts panpipe heritage and bamboo-linked traditions front and centre.

Solomon Ports 70th Anniversary: Solomon Ports Authority (SIPA) is gearing up for a big two-day celebration on 3–4 June 2026, with a summit at the National Aquatic Centre in East Honiara on 3 June. The programme will mix keynote talks, a history exhibition of seven decades of port service, and panel discussions on the past, present and future of Solomon Ports—plus updates on upgrades like the Ports Master Plan. Martial Arts Momentum: A Wing Chun kung fu school is pushing discipline and self-defence training for kids, women and men. Community Sport Push: Kakamora Games 2026 has kicked off in Kirakira, while Belaga District communities are preparing for an Independence Day soccer knockout. Chess Gets More Structure: The Chess Federation has named Chris Kaitu’u as Chief Arbiter for Sunday’s tournament. FFSI Thanks Supporters: Floorball’s federation is thanking the public after a successful fundraising drive.

Independence Day Football: Belaga District Ward 7 is gearing up for a big Independence Day soccer knockout, running July 6–10 at Tavulea Village, with youth and community teams uniting through sport and fundraising. Cultural Spotlight: NATPAN 2026 is set with the theme “Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles,” pushing panpipe music and wider heritage like shell money, carving, weaving, dance, and canoe traditions. Sport Momentum: Fiji’s powerlifting scene is surging—women’s participation is at a record high as Fiji prepares to host powerlifting in the Oceania circuit again after 20 years. Media & Identity: A new Pacific documentary is reigniting debate on colourism, with social media making the conversation harder to dodge. Regional Sports Roundup: Oceania athletes are turning heads across athletics, swimming, and more, with Pacific nations closing the gap against traditional powerhouses. Arts & Film: Doc Edge has unveiled its 2026 programme with 28 world premieres, including 14 New Zealand debuts.

Belaga Independence Day football: Communities in Belaga District (North East Small Ngella) are gearing up for a week-long Ward 7 Independence Day Soccer Knockout Tournament at Tavulea Village, running July 6–10, with youths and teams uniting through sport and fundraising. NATPAN 2026: The Solomon Islands National Panpipe Festival is set to spotlight tradition with the theme “Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles,” promising panpipe culture plus wider heritage like shell money, carving, weaving, dance, oral traditions, canoe history, and food systems. Pacific culture debate: A new Pacific documentary is reigniting discussion on colourism—how skin tone shapes attitudes—especially as social media amplifies the issue. Sport momentum across the region: Fiji powerlifting is seeing a surge in women’s participation ahead of Fiji hosting the Oceania International Championships for the first time in 20 years, while Oceania swimming reports a narrowing gap as more Pacific nations win medals. Media & trust: BBC Media Action is training Pacific journalists on tackling disinformation, aiming for more open, accountable reporting. Doc Edge 2026: The Oscar-qualifying festival has unveiled its 2026 programme with 28 world premieres, including 14 New Zealand premieres, running June 24–August 10.

Belaga Independence Day buzz: Belaga District Ward 7 is gearing up for a big Independence Day soccer knockout, running July 6–10 at Tavulea Village, with youth and community teams coming together for unity and fundraising. Cultural spotlight: NATPAN 2026 is set to celebrate Solomon Islands panpipe heritage with the theme “Echoes of the Past, Sounds of the Hapi Isles,” promising music plus wider traditions like carving, weaving, dance, canoe heritage and traditional food systems. Pacific sports momentum: Fiji is hosting Pacific powerlifting again after 20 years, and the women’s surge is driving record female participation. Identity conversation: A new Pacific documentary is reigniting debate on colourism, showing how skin-tone bias still shapes everyday life and even pageantry. Regional sport roundup: Oceania athletics and swimming reports point to growing Pacific strength, with more countries challenging the old medal leaders. Media & training: BBC Media Action is training Pacific journalists to tackle disinformation with practical verification skills.

Pacific Powerlifting Boom: Fiji is set to host Pacific powerlifting again after 20 years, with women driving a surge—Suva’s East vs West meet drew 70+ lifters and produced standout progress stories like Susana Qionibaravi, who climbed from gym training to Oceania-level gold. Documentary Spotlight: A new Pacific documentary is reigniting debate on colourism, with ABC Pacific’s “Does the Pacific have a problem with blackness?” pushing the conversation into the open—especially as social media amplifies skin-tone attacks. Sports Momentum: Oceania sport is firing on all cylinders this week, from athletics in Cairns to swimmers challenging the old New Zealand/Australia dominance in Suva. Local Development: Solomon Islands keeps building the pipeline—cricket coaching camp and school sports master training are underway, while Choiseul ramps up for the Solomon Islands Games with netball, athletics, volleyball and rugby preparations. Media & Climate: Journalists are also training to report climate “loss and damage” more effectively, with SPREP and partners leading the push.

Colourism Conversation Ignites: ABC Pacific’s new documentary Does the Pacific have a problem with blackness? has gone live, pushing a long-avoided regional debate about skin-tone discrimination—especially as social media makes appearance and identity fights more public. Producer Alice Lolohea traces how colourism shows up in everyday talk and even Pacific pageantry, with Miss Solomon Islands 2024 Elsie Polosovai speaking from lived experience. Sports Pathways & Coaching: Solomon Islands Cricket Federation has started a two-day coaching camp at SINIS, while OSEP and the National Sports Council run a two-day workshop for Honiara City Council sports masters to strengthen leadership and athlete development. Festival Buzz: Doc Edge 2026 has unveiled a packed programme with 28 world premieres, including 14 New Zealand premieres, running 24 June–10 August. Community on the Water: ARO Outrigger & Canoe Club is gearing up for the Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026 on May 25, with sprint races and a mixed relay plus family-friendly events.

Girmit Golf Open: Aspiring doctor and golfer Raina Kumar is back on the course, teeing off at the Extra Girmit Open Golf Championship in Suva as a trial run for next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti—she’s balancing third-year medical study with early-morning practice and says golf helps her manage stress. Doc Edge Festival: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, with 49 feature films, 26 shorts and 12 immersive projects, including 28 world premieres, running 24 June to 10 August across New Zealand and via Virtual Cinema. Sports Development: Oceania tennis officials warn Pacific pathways are weakening, while in Solomon Islands, SICF has started a two-day cricket coaching camp at SINIS and OSEP/NSC are training Honiara school sports masters. Community & Culture: ARO Outrigger & Canoe Club is gearing up for the Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026 on May 25 at DC Park, with sprint races and a mixed relay. Media & Climate: Journalists are being trained to improve reporting on climate loss and damage, with organisers urging stronger coverage as misinformation spreads.

Pacific Games Golf Spotlight: Aspiring doctor and golfer Raina Kumar is back in action at the Extra Girmit Open in Suva, using the Fiji Golf Club trial as a step toward booking a Pacific Games spot in Tahiti next year. She’s balancing third-year medical study with early-morning and late-afternoon practice, saying golf helps her manage stress. Doc Edge Festival Buzz: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, running 24 June to 10 August, with 49 feature films, 26 shorts, and 12 immersive projects—plus 28 world premieres. Sports Development Push: Oceania tennis officials warn Pacific development pathways are weakening, while Solomon Islands Cricket Federation starts a two-day coaching camp at SINIS to strengthen fundamentals and safeguarding. Climate Reporting Focus: Journalists in Honiara are being trained to better cover climate loss and damage, with media urged to lead stronger, clearer reporting. Local Community Sport: ARO Outrigger & Canoe Club opens registrations for its Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026 on 25 May, featuring sprint races and a mixed relay.

Girmit Golf Open: Aspiring doctor and golfer Raina Kumar teed off at the Extra Girmit Open in Suva, calling it her first trial for next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti as she balances Fiji National University studies with early-morning practice. Doc Edge Festival: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has locked in its 2026 programme, running 24 June–10 August, with 28 world premieres and a mix of 49 feature films, 26 shorts and 12 immersive projects. Tennis Development: Fiji Open referee David Smith warns Pacific tennis standards are slipping, blaming the loss of a key Lautoka training hub and urging rebuilt elite pathways. Swimming Momentum: Pacific swimmers are challenging NZ/Australia at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Fiji’s relay and individual wins plus a new Oceania record. Local Sport & Media: SICF starts a two-day coaching camp at SINIS; BBC Media Action runs verification training to fight disinformation; and ARO Club prepares the Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026.

Pacific Games Golf Dream: Raina Kumar, a third-year medical student, tees off at Fiji Golf Club in Suva for the Extra Girmit Open as her first trial toward the Pacific Games in Tahiti—she’s balancing study stress with early-morning practice and hopes to climb her world ranking. Doc Edge Festival Buzz: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, running 24 June–10 August, with 28 world premieres and a big slate of feature, short, and immersive projects across NZ and beyond. Tennis Development Worry: Fiji Open referee David Smith says Pacific tennis standards are slipping, pointing to lost junior training hubs like the ITF House in Lautoka and urging stronger elite pathways. Sports Training on the Ground (SI): SICF has started a two-day cricket coaching camp at SINIS, while OSEP and SINSC run a two-day sports masters workshop for Honiara schools. Media & Climate Focus: Journalists are being trained to report climate loss and damage more effectively, with SPREP and local media partners leading the push.

Pacific Games golf buzz: Aspiring doctor and golfer Raina Kumar is back in action at the Extra Girmit Open in Suva, using the Fiji Golf Club trial to sharpen her chances for the Pacific Games in Tahiti next year—she’s balancing med school with early-morning and late-afternoon practice. Doc Edge Festival: Doc Edge has unveiled its 2026 programme with 28 world premieres, including 14 New Zealand debuts, running 24 June to 10 August across major cities and via Virtual Cinema. Swimming momentum: Pacific swimmers are challenging the old Oceania powerhouses at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Fiji standout wins including a new Oceania record in the 4x50m mixed relay. Media & climate: BBC Media Action is training Pacific journalists to fight disinformation, while a Solomon Islands Loss and Damage media workshop is pushing stronger reporting on climate harm. Local sport development: SICF has started a two-day cricket coaching camp at SINIS, and OSEP with SINSC is running a two-day workshop for Honiara school sports masters.

Golf & Pacific Games buzz: Aspiring doctor and golfer Raina Kumar is back in action at the Extra Girmit Open Golf Championship in Suva, calling it her first trial for next year’s Pacific Games in Tahiti as she balances medical study with early-morning practice. Doc Edge spotlight: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, running 24 June–10 August, with 49 feature films, 26 shorts and 12 immersive projects plus 28 world premieres. Swimming momentum: Pacific swimmers are challenging the old NZ/Aus dominance at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Fiji standout performances including a record-breaking 4x50m mixed relay. Media & misinformation: BBC Media Action is training Pacific journalists on verification and tackling disinformation, while a separate Loss and Damage media training pushes stronger climate reporting. Local sport pipeline: SICF’s two-day cricket coaching camp is underway at SINIS, and ARO Club is gearing up for the Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026.

Doc Edge Festival: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge has just unveiled its 2026 programme, running 24 June to 10 August, with 49 feature films, 26 shorts and 12 immersive projects—and a big headline: 28 world premieres across film and immersive storytelling, including 14 New Zealand premieres. Regional Sports Momentum: Oceania swimming is showing a shift—Pacific swimmers are challenging the old New Zealand/Australia dominance at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Fiji standout performances and record-breaking relay glory. Coaching & Grassroots Push: Solomon Islands sports development is in full swing: SICF’s two-day cricket coaching camp at SINIS is underway, while OSEP and the National Sports Council are training school sports masters in Honiara to strengthen leadership and athlete development. Community on the Water: ARO Outrigger & Canoe Club is gearing up for the Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026 on 25 May, with sprint races, a mixed relay, cash prizes, and family-friendly events at DC Park. Media & Climate: Journalists are also being trained to report climate loss and damage more effectively, with a focus on clearer, stronger coverage as misinformation spreads.

Doc Edge Festival: The Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge Festival has dropped its full 2026 programme, running 24 June to 10 August across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and nationwide via Virtual Cinema, with 49 feature films, 26 shorts and 12 immersive projects—and 28 world premieres including 14 from Aotearoa. Regional Sport Pathways: Oceania tennis officials say the Pacific’s development pipeline is slipping, pointing to the closure of the ITF House in Lautoka as top juniors lose daily high-level training and competition. Swimming Momentum: Pacific swimmers are closing the gap at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Team Fiji delivering standout golds and a new Oceania record in the 4x50m mixed relay. Media & Climate: BBC Media Action is training Pacific journalists on verification and fighting disinformation, while a separate Loss and Damage media training urges stronger climate reporting. Local Sports Build-Up: SICF’s two-day cricket coaching camp is underway at SINIS, and ARO Club is gearing up for its Pentecost Sprints Regatta 2026 on 25 May.