Pacific

In 2015, the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the third ever global coral bleaching event, describing the problem as worse than the 1998 disaster when 16 percent of the world's reefs were killed.

Thirty-eight percent of reefs are under threat and over 12,000 square kilometres of reefs will be killed according to the Pacific Community's Brad Moore.

It says this could boost economies by up to 3.5 per cent over the next five years, creating thousands of jobs in the process.

The bank's monthly research survey shows outsourcing could emerge as a new driver of Pacific growth.

The bank says Fiji is already showing promise as major companies set up operations there.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says $250,000 (US$167,000) of that money will go to the World Health Organisation's Pacific Zika Action Plan while the rest will be given to “enable countries in the region to respond rapidly if required”.

“With the Zika virus now confirmed in a number of Pacific countries, New Zealand is committed to helping limit the impact and spread of the virus in the region,” says McCully.

“Our package of support is targeted at prevention and detection measures and builds on our existing support for improving health outcomes in the region.

Last week the Pacific Community launched the Pacific Islands Trade Report 2010-2014, which gave a rare insight into the flow of goods between Pacific Island countries themselves and the rest of the world.

According to the author of the report, Sally-Ann Hughes, within the region's primary sector, the products showing good potential are fish, wood, cocoa, virgin coconut oil and root crops.

The study found that young people's sexual behaviour, especially unmarried young people, is a sensitive topic that many governments are failing to confront.

The lead researcher, Dr Elissa Kennedy from Australia's Burnet Institute, says the Pacific has high rates of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among adolescents.

The figures for the December 2015 quarter, released by Statistics New Zealand today, show the unemployment rate for Pacific people dropped over 2015 to 9.7 per cent, from 11.4 per cent a year earlier.

This is the lowest rate since December 2008, when the figure was 7.7 per cent.

The number of Pacific people in employment also increased over 2015 by 14,500 to 130,700. This is a 12.5 per cent increase and represents the highest number of Pacific people employed.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Steve Ciobo announced support for the programme.

The Australian Government is providing $780,000 to Cricket Australia over the next two years, in partnership with the International Cricket Council, to support community programs that address health, gender equality and disability challenges in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji.

The program aims to identify, support and train women leaders involved in basketball in the Pacific region. This support builds the capacity of women through a multifaceted training regime that develops leadership, governance, public speaking and negotiating skills.

SPC closely monitors the Zika situation regionally and internationally, along with other diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya.

The report uses International Trade Centre data to illustrate the main primary sector export products from 15 Pacific Island countries, the main export markets for these products and whether they are growing or declining. 

Fiji shines as an example for other Pacific Island countries to follow, accounting for 96 per cent of all regional exports.