Nauru

“We are still tracking the Shuen De Ching No.888 and we have supplied all our information to the nations where the ship might pull into their ports, including Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Fiji.

“We think it is vital for Pacific nations to investigate this ship to show that illegal fishing will not be tolerated, particularly as the region tries to develop a sustainable fisheries industry,” said Lagi Toribau, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Global Tuna campaigner from aboard Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship.

The New Zealand Government announced last week that it was suspending the $1.2 million (US$750,000) of aid it provides to keep Nauru's justice sector going.

The decision followed growing concerns about the deterioration of the rule of law in the tiny Pacific nation and worries about democratic and civil rights.

It's anticipated McCully will have formal talks with Nauru at some point today on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby.

Ahead of that meeting, Prime Minister John Key said New Zealand's message to Nauru is “really clear”.

This is despite having indicated earlier it would pull out of the controversial resettlement agreement having taken in only four people.

The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has held talks with Australia's immigration minister, Peter Dutton, and both have agreed to stick to the plan to take small numbers of refugees from Nauru on a voluntary basis.

Cambodia said it wanted more refugees in groups of four to five at a time and would send a team to Nauru to interview more detainees.

The leaders of the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu caught up on Monday before the wider 16 nation Pacific Island Forum leaders summit in Papua New Guinea later this week.

They issued a special declaration on climate change that demanded the world limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and that countries uphold the principle of polluter pays.

The island leader made the comment in Port Moresby where he has arrived to attend the 46th Pacific Islands Forum summit in response to New Zealand's decision to suspend its US$760,000 aid to Nauru's justice sector.

“Let me assure you nothing will change,” President Waqa told Islands Business magazine. It’s just New Zealand’s decision to withdraw the support, the funding but Nauru will continue.

Bishop says she has spoken with President and Foreign Minister of Nauru Baron Waqa and he has given assurances that the rule of law will be upheld.

That follows New Zealand's decision on Thursday to suspend about $NZ1.2 million ($A1.08 million) funding for Nauru's justice sector amid long-running concerns about democratic rights and the rule of law in the Pacific island nation.

Last year, the Nauru government forced the island's then only judge out of office and suspended most of the opposition from parliament indefinitely.

This change to an “automated lodgement process”   will require the importer to use  an Electronic Self-Assessed Declaration (ESAD) and the commodity being imported must be classified to the Harmonised Tariff that was passed by parliament in 2014.  The paper based system currently in use will be phased out over time.

The legislation requires the importer or their agent (a Customs broker or a compiler)   compile their own self-assessed declaration as the principle is one of self-compliance. Customs can no longer keep doing this work for traders or importers.     

Over the last 12 months, Digicel Nauru has come on in leaps and bounds.  Moving on from a simple OTT and WiMax service to now launching 3G thanks to improvements to the network.  

Digicel maintains its mission to win the hearts of their customers in Nauru by improving services and building strong relationships with partners and the Government.

The WAQA Administration has given the green light for a five point five million dollar funding package aimed at renovating and rebuilding properties most in need of repair.

Many of the island homes have sadly been neglected and run down over the years, reminding the community of the problems and mistakes which plagued former governments.

Klenny Harris, the director of Special Projects, says it’s about time the Nauruans began to again feel proud about where they live.

Transfield said on Monday that it had been notified by the department that it was the preferred tenderer to provide welfare and security services on the islands after its existing contract expires on October 31.

“Subject to completion of a contract, the company will be responsible for providing these services for a further five years,” Transfield said.

The renewal of the contract will heighten focus on Transfield's management of the detention centres after several pension funds sold out of the stock following allegations of alleged human rights abuses.