Pacific Forum in Flux | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 30, 2026 · 1m

The Pacific Islands Forum is off to a rocky start in Palau, with five key leaders missing—including Kiribati’s president, who cited parliamentary and travel issues despite being confirmed just last week. New Zealand’s Winston Peters called the excuses flimsy, noting these meetings are months in advance, while Kiribati sent their ambassador to China instead—a move hinting at shifting regional allegiances. Solomon Islands’ PM bolted for a no-confidence vote after toughening his stance on China, fueling speculation about foreign influence. Fiji’s PM also skipped town citing domestic duties…