On this page you will find country profiles for all the Member and Associate Member countries that comprise the Pacific Forum, along with a snapshot table of the primary iwi of Aotearoa-New Zealand.
Australia
Language: English
Size: Land - 7,686,848 sq km EEZ - 8.6 million sq km
Population: 21.4 million (2008)
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar
Form of Government: Bicameral Federal Parliament consisting of the Senate with 76 seats and the House of Representatives with 150 seats
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor General, currently Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO (2013)
Current PM/President: Hon Tony Abbott MP (2013)
Next election: 2016
Government website: australia.gov.au
National day: Australia Day 26 January - Commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, New South Wales in 1788
Main industries: Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, services and tourism
Main media online:
Australian newspaper headlines - www.newspapers.com.au
The Australian - www.theaustralian.com.au
The Canberra Times - www.canberratimes.com.au
The Sydney Morning Herald - www.smh.com.au
Northern Territory News - www.ntnews.com.au
Brisbane Courier Mail - www.couriermail.com.au
The Adelaide Advertiser - www.adelaidenow.com.au
The Hobart Mercury - www.themercury.com.au
The Melbourne Age - www.theage.com.au
The West Australian - au.news.yahoo.com/thewest
ABC - www.abc.net.au
Nine - channelnine.ninemsn.com.au
Ten - tenplay.com.au
Radio Australia - www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacific
Cook Islands
Language: Cook Islands Maori – various dialects; English
Size: Land - 240 sq km EEZ - 1.8 million sq km
Population: 10,900 (Jun 2011)
Capital: Avarua on the island of Rarotonga
Currency: New Zealand Dollar; New Zealand & Cook Islands coins
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament with 24 seats
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II who is represented in Cook Islands by the Queen's Representative Tom Marsters (2013)
Current PM/President: Hon Henry Puna (2013)
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.cook-islands.gov.ck
National day: Te Maeva Nui 4 August - In commemoration of the signing of the constitution in 1965 making the Cook Islands self-governing
Main industries: Agriculture, black pearls, offshore banking and tourism
Main media online:
Cook Islands News - www.cookislandsnews.com
Cook Islands Herald - www.ciherald.co.ck
Cook Islands Sun - www.enjoycookislands.com
Escape Magazine - www.escapemagazine.travel
Cook Islands Television - www.facebook.com/pages/Cook-Islands-Television-News/136594079715724
Radio Cook Islands - www.radio.co.ck
Matariki FM - www.matarikifm.co.ck
Federated States of Micronesia
Language: Micronesian languages; English
Size: Land - 700 sq km EEZ – 2.9 million sq km
Population: 106,104 (July 2013 est.)
Capital: Palikir on the island of Pohnpei
Currency: US Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral Congress with 14 seats
Head of State: President Emanuel Mori (2013)
Current PM/President: President Emanuel Mori (2013)
Next election: 2015
Government website: www.fsmgov.org
National day: Independence Day 3 November - This commemorates Micronesia gaining independence from US-administered UN Trusteeship in 1979
Main industries: Agriculture and fisheries
Main media online:
Kaselehlie Press - www.kpress.info
Micronesia radio stations - www.fm/index.htm
Fiji
Language: Fijian; Hindi; English
Size: Land - 18,272 sq km EEZ – 1.26 million sq km
Population: 837,271 (2007)
Capital: Suva on the island of Viti Levu
Currency: Fiji Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament, which will consist of 50 members (after new constitution is adopted in 2013)
Head of State: President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau (2013)
Current PM/President: Interim Prime Minister Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama (2013)
Next election: 2014 (Sept)
Government website: www.fiji.gov.fj
National day: Fiji Day 10 October - Anniversary of both Fiji's cession to the United Kingdom in 1874 and attainment of independence in 1970
Main industries: Agriculture, clothing, fisheries, forestry, tourism and sugar
Main media online:
The Fiji Times - www.fijitimes.com
Fiji Sun - www.fijisun.com.fj
Fiji Live - fijilive.com
The Jet - thejetnewspaper.com
Fiji TV - fijitv.info
Fiji Broadcasting - www.fbc.com.fj
Kiribati
Language: Kiribati; English
Size: Land - 726 sq km EEZ – 3.6 million sq km
Population: 103,248 (July 2013 est.)
Capital: Tarawa
Currency: Australian Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba ni Maungatabu) with 46 seats
Head of State: President Anote Tong
Current PM/President: President Anote Tong
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.parliament.gov.ki
National day: Independence Day 12 July - Commemorates independence from British colonial rule in 1979
Main industries: Copra, fisheries and seaweed
Main media online:
Kiribati Independent - www.thekiribatiindependent.co.nz/journalism.html
Nauru
Size: Land - 21 sq km EEZ – 320,000 sq km
Population: 9,233 (2006)
Capital: Yaren
Currency: Australian Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament with 19 seats
Head of State: President Baron Waqa
Current PM/President: President Baron Waqa
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.naurugov.nr
National day: Independence Day 31 January - Anniversary of independence in 1968
Main industries: Phosphate
Main media online:
None known (please send us the URL if you know of Nauru based media online)
New Zealand
Language: New Zealand Maori; English
Size: Land - 270,000 sq km EEZ – 2.2 million sq km
Population: 4,365,113 (July 2013 est.)
Capital: Wellington, in the north island of New Zealand
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral House of Representatives with 120 seats - MMP
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor General Sir Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae
Current PM/President: Rt Hon John Key
Next election: 2014
Government website: newzealand.govt.nz
National day: Waitangi Day 6 February - Celebrates the signing, in 1840, of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document
Main industries: Agriculture, forestry, services, manufacturing and tourism
Main media online:
The Dominion Post - www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post
The New Zealand Herald - www.nzherald.co.nz
Otago Daily Times - www.odt.co.nz
The Press - www.stuff.co.nz/the-press
Sunday Star Times - www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times
Television New Zealand - tvnz.co.nz
TV 3 - www.tv3.co.nz
Choice TV - www.choicetv.co.nz
Prime - www.primetv.co.nz
Radio NZ - www.radionz.co.nz
Niue
Language: Niuean; English
Size: Land - 259 sq km EEZ – 390,000 sq km
Population: 1,625 (2006)
Capital: Alofi
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy; Unicameral Assembly made up of 20 members, 14 village representatives and 6 from a common roll
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand
Current PM/President: Hon Toke Tufukia Talagi
Next election: 2014
Government website: www.gov.nu/wb
National day: Constitution Day 19 October. Commemorates the island becoming self-governing in 1974
Main industries: Agriculture, banking, telecommunications and tourism
Main media online: Niue - www.niueisland.com/news
Palau
Language: Palauan; English
Size: Land - 487 sq km EEZ – 600,900 sq km
Population: 21,108 (July 2013 est.)
Capital: Koror
Currency: US Dollar
Form of Government: Bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau) consisting of the Senate with 9 seats and the House of Delegates with 16 seats
Head of State: President Tommy Remengesau
Current PM/President: President Tommy Remengesau
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.palaugov.net
National day: Independence Day 1 October. Officially became an independent nation on this day in 1994
Main industries: Fisheries and tourism
Main media online:
Island Times - www.islandtimes.us
Tia Belau - www.tiabelaunews.com
Oceania TV Network - www.oceaniatv.net
Palau Wave Radio - palauwaveradio.com
Papua New Guinea
Language: Tok Pisin; Hiri Motu; local languages; English
Size: Land – 462,000 sq km EEZ – 3.1 million sq km
Population: 6,310,129 (July 2012 est.)
Capital: Port Moresby
Currency: Kina
Form of Government: Unicameral National Parliament with 111 seats
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor General Sir Michael Ogio
Current PM/President: Hon Peter O'Neill
Next election: 2017
Government website: www.pngembassy.org/government.html or www.pm.gov.pg/
National day: Independence Day 16 September – commemorates independence from Australia in 1975
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and mining
Main media online:
The National - www.thenational.com.pg
Papua New Guinea Today - www.pngfacts.com/-news.html
Papua New Guinea Post-Courier - www.postcourier.com.pg
EMTV - www.emtv.com.pg
Republic of Marshall Islands
Language: Marshallese; English
Size: Land – 181 sq km EEZ – 2.1 million sq km
Population: 54,000 (2003 est.)
Capital: Majuro
Currency: US Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament (Nitijela) with 33 seats
Head of State: President Christopher Loeak
Current PM/President: President Christopher Loeak
Next election: 2015
Government website: www.rmiembassyus.org/government.htm
National day: Constitution Day 1 May; Commemorates becoming self-governing from the US
Main industries: Agriculture and US Military spending
Main media online: The Marshall Islands Journal - www.marshallislandsjournal.com
Samoa (Western)
Language: Samoan; English
Size: Land – 2,934 sq km EEZ – 120,000 sq km
Population: 180,741 (2006)
Capital: Apia
Currency: Tala
Form of Government: Unicameral, 49-member Fono
Head of State: His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi
Current PM/President: Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.govt.ws
National day: Independence Day 1 June; Celebrates independence from NZ, which actually happened on 1 January 1962
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and tourism
Main media online:
Samoan Observer - www.samoaobserver.ws
Talamua Media & Publications - www.talamua.com
Solomon Islands
Language: Pijin; local languages; English
Size: Land – 28,000 sq km EEZ – 1.6 million sq km
Population: 450,000 (2003 est.)
Capital: Honiara
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral National Parliament with 50 seats
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by Governor General Sir Frank Utu Ofagioro Kabui
Current PM/President: Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo
Next election: 2014
Government website: www.pmc.gov.sb or www.parliament.gov.sb
National day: Independence Day 7 July; Commemorates independence from the United Kingdom 1978
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries and forestry
Main media online:
Solomon Star - www.solomonstarnews.com
Solomon Times - www.solomontimes.com
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation - www.sibconline.com.sb
Solomon Islands Broadcasting - www.sibconline.com.sb
Tonga
Language: Tongan; English
Size: Land – 688sq km EEZ – 700,000sq km
Population: 101,991 (2006)
Capital: Nuku’alofa
Currency: Pa’anga
Form of Government: Unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea) with 26 seats
Head of State: King Tupou VI
Current PM/President: Hon Lord Sialeʻataonga Tu'ivakanao
Next election: 2014
Government website: www.mic.gov.to
National day: National Tonga Day 4 November; Celebrates the establishment of the Kingdom of Tonga in 1875
Main industries: Agriculture
Main media online: Matangi Tonga - matangitonga.to
Tuvalu
Language: Tuvaluan; English
Size: Land – 26 sq km EEZ – 719,174 sq km
Population: 10,000 (2003 est.)
Capital: Funafuti
Currency: Australian Dollar
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament (Fale I Fono) with 15 seats
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by Governor General Iakoba Taeia Italeli
Current PM/President: Hon Enele Sopoaga
Next election: 2014
Government website: www.tuvaluislands.com/gov_info.htm
National day: Tuvalu Day 1 October; Celebrates Tuvalu's independence within the Commonwealth in 1978
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries and philatelic sales
Main media online:
Tala o Tuvalu - www.tuvaluislands.com/news/news-head.htm
Tuvalu News TV - www.tuvalu-news.tv
Vanuatu
Language: Bislama; local languages; English; French
Size: Land – 12,190 sq km EEZ – 680,000 sq km
Population: 204,000 (2003 est.)
Capital: Port Villa
Currency: Vatu
Form of Government: Unicameral Parliament with 52 seats
Head of State: HE Iolu Abbil Johnson
Current PM/President: Hon Moana Carcasses Kalosil
Next election: 2016
Government website: www.parliament.gov.vu
National day: Independence Day 30 July; Celebrates independence from the United Kingdom and France 1980
Main industries: Agriculture, fisheries and tourism
Main media online: Vanuatu Daily Post - www.dailypost.vu