AGP Executive Report

Citizenship & Community: In Dunedin, 29 new New Zealand citizens were welcomed at a Town Hall ceremony, including Tuvalu-born Aotoa Tulaga and her son Suiola Taliala, who moved from Auckland to Dunedin for work on the new hospital project and celebrated the “long journey” to citizenship with family. Regional Security & Policing: As Australia finalised a security deal with Vanuatu, Chinese police were reported to be renewing deployments in Port Vila under a June 29 agreement, with Beijing framing the move as law-enforcement cooperation and training rather than military presence. Music, Travel & Personal Triumph: Bengaluru musician Benny Prasad shared how music and relentless travel helped him turn a childhood marked by illness and despair into a world record—becoming the fastest person to visit every country in the world—while staying rooted in India.

Pacific Media & Climate Coverage: PCBL is inviting Pacific journalists and editors to apply for a free Pacific Journalist Training and Coverage Programme ahead of pre-COP31 in Fiji and Tuvalu (5–9, 2026) and COP31 in Antalya (9–20 Nov 2026), delivered with SPREP and focused on climate change and how to cover the COP process; only PCBL-affiliated broadcasters can send participants to the official Pasifika TV Pacific coverage team. Tuvalu Oceanscape Jobs: The Tuvalu Fisheries Authority is calling for Expressions of Interest for a Project Procurement Officer under the TV PROPER project, a full-time two-year consultancy tied to World Bank/IDA funding, with procurement-focused qualifications and experience required. Tuvalu Connections in New Zealand: Aotoa Tulaga and her son Suiola Taliala—originally from Tuvalu—were among 29 new New Zealand citizens welcomed in Dunedin, marking a long journey to citizenship and a new start in the city. Pacific Security Watch: Reporting highlights renewed Chinese police deployments in Vanuatu after a security deal, raising questions about how “police” cooperation fits alongside limits on foreign military presence. Music & Travel Spotlight: A profile of Bengaluru musician Benny Prasad explores how music and travel shaped his record-setting journey to visit every country and territory.

Pacific Media & Climate Coverage: PCBL is inviting Pacific journalists and editors to apply for a free, virtual Pacific Journalist Training and Coverage Programme ahead of COP31—pre-COP31 in Fiji and Tuvalu (5–9, 2026) and COP31 in Antalya (09–20 Nov 2026)—with selection limited to four participants from PCBL-affiliated broadcasters. Tuvalu Employment Opportunity: The Tuvalu Fisheries Authority is calling for Expressions of Interest for a Project Procurement Officer under the Tuvalu Pacific Regional Oceanscape Program for Economic Resilience (TV PROPER), a full-time two-year consultancy focused on compliant procurement of project goods, works, and services. Arts, Music & Global Travel: Musician Benny Prasad, who became the fastest person to visit every country in the world, is in the spotlight again after going viral with his 257-country journey—sharing how travel and music reshaped his worldview. Community & Citizenship (Tuvalu connection): Two new New Zealand citizens from Tuvalu—Aotoa Tulaga and her son Suiola Taliala—were welcomed in Dunedin after a long journey, with family and local leaders celebrating their new start. Regional Security Watch: Reporting notes China’s renewed police presence in Vanuatu following a security deal, highlighting how law-enforcement cooperation continues alongside broader regional agreements.

Ocean & Fisheries Jobs: The Tuvalu Fisheries Authority has opened a Request for Expressions of Interest for a full-time Project Procurement Officer under the Tuvalu Pacific Regional Oceanscape Program for Economic Resilience (TV PROPER), funded by the World Bank/IDA. The role focuses on timely, compliant procurement of goods, works, and consulting services for a two-year term, with support from the Central Procurement Management Office and the World Bank’s procurement specialist. Regional Security Watch: As Australia finalizes a security deal with Vanuatu, Chinese police are renewing deployments in Port Vila under a China–Vanuatu law-enforcement cooperation framework, raising fresh attention on how “police” presence is handled alongside broader security commitments. Travel & Music Inspiration: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad shares how music and travel helped him turn a difficult youth into a record-breaking journey—becoming the fastest person to visit every country in the world.

Pacific Security & Policing: While Australia finalised a security deal with Vanuatu, Chinese police were reported to be renewing their deployment in Port Vila, with Vanuatu agreeing to bar any foreign military presence—though China frames the move as law-enforcement cooperation and “police experts” rotations. Global Travel & Music: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad is back in the spotlight after going viral for visiting 257 countries and territories, using 16 Indian passports, and holding a world record for completing the “every country” trip in just over six years—sharing how illness, resilience, and music helped shape his cross-cultural journey.

Regional Security & Policing: As Australia moved to lock in a new security deal with Vanuatu, Chinese police were reported to be renewing their deployment in Port Vila, with Vanuatu agreeing not to allow any foreign military presence—while China frames the role as law enforcement cooperation and “police experts” rotations. Global Travel & Music: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad went viral after sharing he has visited 257 countries and territories, using 16 Indian passports, and he previously set a world record in 2010 for visiting every sovereign and dependent country in six years, six months, and 22 days—crediting travel and music with reshaping his worldview and connecting people across cultures.

Travel & Music Spotlight: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad is back in the spotlight after going viral for claiming he has visited 257 countries and territories, using 16 Indian passports packed with visas and stamps. World Records: Prasad says he set a world record in 2010 for becoming the fastest person to visit every sovereign and dependent country, finishing in six years, six months, and 22 days—still a record today. Personal Story: He credits his travel drive to a difficult past, including a life-threatening illness, rejection, and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, before travel reshaped his worldview. Cultural Connection: Despite opportunities to settle abroad, he remains rooted in India, and highlights how music helped him connect with people across cultures.

Ocean Research & Climate: Climate Change Cook Islands has partnered with Earth Sciences New Zealand to launch an oceanographic survey of the Cook Islands moana, starting this month with the Kaharoa II—aimed at building a baseline on water temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents and plastic pollution, with a month-long voyage split into two legs. Pacific Arts & Memory: Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pātaka Art + Museum is unveiling Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, spotlighting Pasifika women leaders behind community rebuilding after the 1970s Dawn Raids through portraits and voice recordings by Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga. Regional Culture in Education: The University of the South Pacific marked what’s expected to be King Tupou VI’s final graduation ceremony as Chancellor in the Cook Islands, with tributes that linked the university’s ocean-spanning mission to tivaevae quilt traditions and shared craftsmanship. Global Travel & Music: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad went viral for holding the world record for visiting every sovereign country and dependent territory, sharing how travel and music reshaped his worldview after a childhood marked by severe asthma and life-threatening illness.

Pasifika Voices in Focus: Pātaka Art + Museum’s new exhibition Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women spotlights Pasifika women leaders long missing from Aotearoa New Zealand archives, pairing Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga’s portraits with voice recordings from the Dawn Raids era and beyond, including community figures from Tuvalu and across the Pacific. Ocean & Climate Research: Climate Change Cook Islands has launched its Ocean Monitoring Programme with Earth Sciences New Zealand, sending the research vessel Kaharoa II on a month-long survey of the Cook Islands moana to build a baseline on temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents, and plastic pollution. Regional Arts & Ceremony: University of the South Pacific honoured Chancellor King Tupou VI at the Cook Islands Campus graduation, drawing on tivaevae quilt traditions to mirror the university’s Pacific network as his term ends on 30 June. Global Travel & Music: Bengaluru musician Benny Prasad went viral for holding a world record for visiting every sovereign country and dependent territory, using his music-fuelled connections to explain how travel reshaped his life and worldview.

Arts & Identity: A new exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum, Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, spotlights Pasifika women whose voices were missing from Aotearoa’s archives, using Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga’s portraits and recorded testimonies to honor community leaders tied to P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. Inc’s Whitireia branch, including Tuvalu. Regional Education & Culture: University of the South Pacific ceremonies in the Cook Islands marked King Tupou VI’s final graduation as Chancellor, with speeches drawing on tivaevae quilt traditions to underline USP’s Pacific-wide connections. Ocean, Climate & Community Impact: Climate Change Cook Islands has launched an oceanographic survey aboard the research vessel Kaharoa II, starting June 24, to build a baseline on water temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents, and plastic pollution across the northern Cook Islands—data meant to guide future climate impact planning. Travel & Music as Connection: Bengaluru musician Benny Prasad went viral for holding a world record for visiting every sovereign country and dependent territory, sharing how illness, resilience, and music helped him connect across cultures while staying rooted in India.

Tuvalu Police Boost: Tuvalu’s force will welcome 10 newly graduated officers next week after completing a 16-week course at the Fiji Police Academy in Suva, with seven men and three women passing out in a parade reviewed by Fijian PM Sitiveni Rabuka. Regional Arts & Memory: A Porirua exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum, Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, spotlights Pasifika “sheroes” and Dawn Raids-era community rebuilders through portraits and voice recordings by Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga, including Tuvalu voices. Pacific Education & Royal Tribute: University of the South Pacific ceremonies in the Cook Islands honoured King Tupou VI as Chancellor ahead of his term ending 30 June, drawing on tivaevae quilt tradition to reflect the university’s shared Pacific ties. Ocean Science for Climate Resilience: Climate Change Cook Islands has begun an oceanographic survey of the Cook Islands moana with the Kaharoa II, aiming to build a baseline for future monitoring, including work on plastic pollution and ocean conditions. Global Travel & Music Spotlight: Bengaluru-born musician Benny Prasad went viral for becoming the fastest person to visit every country in the world, linking his record journey to how travel and music reshaped his worldview.

Ocean & Climate Research: Climate Change Cook Islands has kicked off its Ocean Monitoring Programme with the New Zealand research vessel Kaharoa II, starting a month-long survey of the Cook Islands moana focused on the northern group, collecting baseline data on water temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents and plastic pollution. Pasifika Arts & Archives: A new exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum, Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, spotlights Pasifika women leaders whose voices were missing from Aotearoa’s archives, pairing portraits by Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga with recorded testimonies that include Tuvalu among many represented communities. Regional Education & Royal Tribute: University of the South Pacific ceremonies in the Cook Islands honoured King Tupou VI as he nears the end of his chancellorship, with speakers drawing on tivaevae quilt traditions to reflect USP’s interconnected Pacific network. Tuvalu Public Service (Community Life): Tuvalu police will welcome 10 newly graduated officers next week after a 16-week Fiji Police Academy course, adding to the force’s land and maritime roles.

Ocean & Climate Arts: Climate Change Cook Islands has kicked off its Ocean Monitoring Programme with the NZ research vessel Kaharoa II, mapping the Cook Islands moana in two legs (late June into July) to set a baseline on water temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents and plastic pollution—data meant to track how climate change could reshape community impacts. Pasifika Women’s Voices: Aotearoa’s archival record is getting a major correction at Pātaka Art + Museum with Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women, featuring portraits and voice recordings by Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga that lift Pasifika “sheroes” from the Dawn Raids era into the spotlight. Regional Education & Ceremony: University of the South Pacific honoured King Tupou VI at the Cook Islands Campus graduation, marking what’s described as his final graduation ceremony as Chancellor and drawing on tivaevae quilt tradition to mirror the university’s Pacific connections. Tuvalu Police Boost: Tuvalu’s force will welcome 10 newly graduated officers next week after a 16-week Fiji Police Academy course, adding seven men and three women to Funafuti-based policing and its maritime and land roles.

Ocean & Climate Arts: Climate Change Cook Islands is kicking off its Ocean Monitoring Programme with the Kaharoa II, surveying the Cook Islands moana from June 24 to July 23 to build a baseline on water temperature, salinity, plankton, currents, and plastic pollution. Pasifika Voices in Museums: Pātaka Art + Museum’s Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women spotlights Pasifika women leaders behind community rebuilding after the 1970s Dawn Raids, using portraits and voice recordings that include Tuvalu among many islands. Regional Education & Ceremony: University of the South Pacific honours King Tupou VI at the Cook Islands Campus graduation as his chancellorship term nears its end, linking the occasion to tivaevae quilt traditions and USP’s Pacific network. Tuvalu Sports & Service: Tuvalu police welcome 10 newly graduated officers from Fiji, while Fiji’s U20 rugby squad names Isoa Koroinawai as captain for the Junior World Championship in Georgia.

Ocean & Climate Arts: Climate Change Cook Islands has teamed up with Earth Sciences New Zealand to start an oceanographic survey of the Cook Islands moana aboard the Kaharoa II, with a month-long voyage split into two legs from June 24 to July 23, aiming to build a baseline on water temperature, salinity, plankton, currents and plastic pollution. Pasifika Voices in Museums: Pātaka Art + Museum is spotlighting Pasifika women leaders behind community rebuilding after the 1970s Dawn Raids in “Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women,” featuring portraits and voice recordings from Samoan-Kiwi artist Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga, including Tuvaluan representation. Regional Education & Ceremony: The University of the South Pacific honoured King Tupou VI at the Cook Islands Campus graduation as his chancellorship nears its end, drawing on tivaevae quilt traditions to describe the university’s Pacific network. Tuvalu Public Service: Tuvalu’s police force will welcome 10 newly graduated officers next week after a 16-week Fiji Police Academy course, with a parade and martial arts/fitness graduation featuring Tuvalu and Fiji flags.

Ocean & Climate Arts: Climate Change Cook Islands has kicked off its Ocean Monitoring Programme with New Zealand’s research vessel Kaharoa II, running a month-long survey of the Cook Islands moana focused on the northern group, to build a baseline on water temperature, salinity, zooplankton, currents and plastic pollution. Pasifika Voices in Museums: Pātaka Art + Museum’s new exhibition Marama Malama: Te Manavā Moana Women spotlights Pasifika women leaders whose stories were missing from Aotearoa’s archives, pairing portraits by Nu’ugalo Jacinta Mauga with voice recordings from their own words, including Tuvalu among the represented communities. Regional Education & Ceremony: University of the South Pacific honoured King Tupou VI at the Cook Islands Campus graduation, framing his final chancellor graduation with tivaevae-inspired themes of shared craft and a network that reaches every island. Tuvalu Police & Community: Tuvalu’s force will welcome 10 newly graduated officers next week after a 16-week Fiji Police Academy course, adding to Funafuti-based policing and supporting maritime patrols and search-and-rescue. Sport & Youth Rugby: SportsWorld Fiji named Isoa Koroinawai as captain for its U20 squad heading to the Junior World Championship in Georgia, with a focus on physicality and discipline.