News
This page collects stories on developments throughout the Pacific in promoting women in politics. Because many news sites in the Pacific archive their stories after a period of time, we have replicated the stories in full on this page, to keep an archive on efforts and article in the region. We thank all Pacific news colleagues for their contributions in sharing stories on women in politics. If you have a story we have missed, please send it to the PacWIP team on pacwip@gmail.com.
Solomon Islands : Third woman elected to Parliament in by-election
17th December, 2019
A third woman MP has been elected in Solomon Islands. Lillian Maefai registered an historic by-election win in the East Makira constituency, becoming the third woman to be elected to the current parliament and setting a new record for women’s representation in the 50 member house. According to results released by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission,...
Vanuatu: Call on Govt to Stop Reserve Seats for women proposal
05th November, 2019
Not all ni-Vanuatu women leaders support the call for Members of Parliament to pass a Bill on Temporary Special Measures (TSM) for quotas or reserve seats for 50% Women in Parliament, which will be presented to the Government after a march today. “We, some of the women who are currently affiliated in different political parties do...
Vanuatu women urged to unite, elect female MPs
05th November, 2019
Vanuatu women should unite to elect female candidates into Parliament, says the former deputy mayor of Vanuatu's Port Vila, Leimara Malachi.
Diverse Tonga Cabinet aims to end division
14th October, 2019
The Cabinet line up named by Tonga's new Prime Minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, reflects his vow to unite the politically divided Kingdom.
Solomon Islands: Record number of women candidates for elections
07th March, 2019
Solomon Islands has a population of approximately 611,343 people (2017 census). The national Parliament has 50 members, and Elections are held every 4 years. The last general election was held on 19th November 2014. The electoral system uses a first-past-the-post system, which has made it very difficult for women to get elected. To date, there have been no further changes to the electoral...
Hon. Te Hani Brown from Cook Islands reflects on her journey into Politics as the Pacific’s youngest MP
17th December, 2018
The youngest Member of Parliament in the Pacific, Hon. Te Hani Brown was elected into Parliament in June 2018, following the Cook Islands national elections. She caused a landslide victory over more seasoned politicians, scooping 56% of the total votes. In this interview, Hon Brown sits with the Effective Governance Team Leader for the UNDP Pacific...
Fiji: 10 women elected to Parliament
26th November, 2018
THE new Parliament make-up includes 10 women. This comprise five in Government and five in the Opposition. Premila Kumar, Selai Adimaitoga, Veena Bhatnagar, Mereseini Vuniwaqa and Rosy Akbar will make up the 27-member FijiFirst led Government while, Social Democratic Liberal Party members Lynda Tabuya, Ro Teimumu Kepa, Salote Radrodro, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and National Federation Party...
Fiji: 24 Per Cent Of Women Contested Elections
26th November, 2018
Women made up 24 per cent of the total number of candidates who contested the 2018 Fiji General Election, says Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem. Fifty-six women initially contested and at the declaration of the official results on Sunday, 10 women were confirmed to take up parliamentary positions for the next four years. They are...
Fiji: Dr Jiko Luveni is Speaker of Parliament for a second term
26th November, 2018
Dr. Jiko Luveni will continue in her role as the Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Fiji for the next four years. This came after the nomination for speaker by the Opposition to appoint Tanya Waqanika was defeated by 27 votes to 24 in Parliament this morning. Dr Luveni thanked Government MPs and the...
Cook Islands Speaker of parliament stresses need for gender equality
23rd October, 2018
Speaker of the Parliament Nikki Rattle reiterated her desire to increase the number of women in the local Parliament, at the opening of the 37th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Australia and Pacific Regional Conference 2018 yesterday. The three-day conference being held at the Edgewater Resort and Spa in Arorangi is attended by about 60 CPA...
56 women candidates to contest the 2018 Fiji Elections
19th October, 2018
The 2018 Fiji general election, for 51 seats in the Parliament, is taking place on November 14. 235 candidates from 6 political parties are standing; 56 of the candidates are women – 24% of the total number. This is an increase in the number of women standing. It is notable that 33% of the total...
Niue forms women’s Parliamentary group
16th October, 2018
On 12 & 13 September 2018, Niue’s women MPs held a workshop, opened by the Acting Premier and with the support of UNDP’s Australian-funded Regional Women in Politics Programme, to form a women’s parliamentary group. With five women MPs, out of a total of 20 seats, Niue has 25% female representation – the highest in...