High Commissioner -
Anne Boquet, High Commissioner of French Polynesia (acting) (2005–present)
President of the Government -
Oscar Temaru, President of the Government of French Polynesia (2005–December 2006).
Gaston Tong Sang (December 26, 2006 onward)
February 16:
Tokelau will remain a
New Zealand territory after a
referendum on independence. A 60 percent majority voted in favor of independence, but a two-thirds majority was required for the referendum to succeed.
February 20: Retired scientist Don Kennedy suggests the entire population of
Tuvalu should move to the Fijian island of
Kioa, to preserve Tuvaluan culture as their homeland becomes uninhabitable due to
rising sea levels.
(Pacific Islands)
February 27:
Vanuatu's Commodities Marketing Board has taken over the export of
kava, Vanuatu's third largest export earner. The Fisheries and Quarantine department previously responsible for kava is protesting that VCMB does not have the expertise needed.
(Radio New Zealand)[permanent dead link]
February 27: More than a quarter of the soldiers in
East Timor's Army have quit in the last few weeks in protest over conditions and promotion rules.
(ABC)
March 2: The
Pitcairn Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against the
2004 sexual assault trial. Randall Christian's appeal against indecent assault of a girl aged under 13 was upheld, but this doesn't affect his sentence of six years on other charges. The men will now appeal to the
Privy Council in London.
(NZ Herald)
March 3:
Papua New Guinea Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye announces an open air policy, which would allow other airlines to compete with
Air Niugini on international routes into and from Papua New Guinea. The policy will take effect in 2007.
(Pacific Magazine)[permanent dead link]
March 26:
RFO television news in
New Caledonia was cancelled for two days due to a strike in protest at the sacking of a technician.
(Pacific Media Watch)
March 26:
East Timor's Prime Minister,
Mari Alkatiri, calls for calm after former soldiers looted shops and threw stones at opponents in
Dili. 591 soldiers were dismissed from the
army in the previous week after deserting their posts.
(Radio NZ)
March 30: Hiro Tefaarere, the
French Polynesian minister for small and medium enterprises, resigns due to disagreements with the ruling coalition, and his failure to gain support for two development projects.
(Radio NZ)
April 20: 15,000 people march in
Nouméa,
New Caledonia to protest the high cost of living. The march is part of a 24-hour strike called by several trade unions.
Radio NZ)
High Commissioner -
Anne Boquet, High Commissioner of French Polynesia (acting) (2005–present)
President of the Government -
Oscar Temaru, President of the Government of French Polynesia (2005–December 2006).
Gaston Tong Sang (December 26, 2006 onward)
February 16:
Tokelau will remain a
New Zealand territory after a
referendum on independence. A 60 percent majority voted in favor of independence, but a two-thirds majority was required for the referendum to succeed.
February 20: Retired scientist Don Kennedy suggests the entire population of
Tuvalu should move to the Fijian island of
Kioa, to preserve Tuvaluan culture as their homeland becomes uninhabitable due to
rising sea levels.
(Pacific Islands)
February 27:
Vanuatu's Commodities Marketing Board has taken over the export of
kava, Vanuatu's third largest export earner. The Fisheries and Quarantine department previously responsible for kava is protesting that VCMB does not have the expertise needed.
(Radio New Zealand)[permanent dead link]
February 27: More than a quarter of the soldiers in
East Timor's Army have quit in the last few weeks in protest over conditions and promotion rules.
(ABC)
March 2: The
Pitcairn Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against the
2004 sexual assault trial. Randall Christian's appeal against indecent assault of a girl aged under 13 was upheld, but this doesn't affect his sentence of six years on other charges. The men will now appeal to the
Privy Council in London.
(NZ Herald)
March 3:
Papua New Guinea Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye announces an open air policy, which would allow other airlines to compete with
Air Niugini on international routes into and from Papua New Guinea. The policy will take effect in 2007.
(Pacific Magazine)[permanent dead link]
March 26:
RFO television news in
New Caledonia was cancelled for two days due to a strike in protest at the sacking of a technician.
(Pacific Media Watch)
March 26:
East Timor's Prime Minister,
Mari Alkatiri, calls for calm after former soldiers looted shops and threw stones at opponents in
Dili. 591 soldiers were dismissed from the
army in the previous week after deserting their posts.
(Radio NZ)
March 30: Hiro Tefaarere, the
French Polynesian minister for small and medium enterprises, resigns due to disagreements with the ruling coalition, and his failure to gain support for two development projects.
(Radio NZ)
April 20: 15,000 people march in
Nouméa,
New Caledonia to protest the high cost of living. The march is part of a 24-hour strike called by several trade unions.
Radio NZ)