The problem is that it’s almost impossible to address this topic without getting all emotional about it. Obviously Niue is an extreme example, but when more and more of a country’s people live in another country, does this not raise some questions marks over its status? There have been predictions of large-scale migrations from Melanesia to Australia to escape population pressure in coming decades as well. Several other Pacific nations are also headed in this direction. It’s a similar situation for Samoa, and a couple of years ago Tonga passed a significant milestone along this road when the number of Tongans living abroad passed the number at home. When you have around 1,700 Niueans on Niue, but 25,000 in New Zealand, where is the centre of gravity of Niuean language and culture? Similarly for Tokelau, with fewer that 1500 people on the three atolls themselves, but almost five times that number in New Zealand. One massive cyclone, tsunami or earthquake hitting countries the size of Niue, Tokelau or Palau could conceivably destroy their economies.Īn even more serious challenge is population shift from island mini-states to the metropolitan countries in or bordering the region, such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States. It’s often an unedifying spectacle when a leader feels the need to say these things, because the harsh reality is that while many Pacific nations are doing fine as independent entities, others face daunting challenges that raise real questions about their status.įor a start, the smaller states are very vulnerable to natural disasters.
That itself tells you something about how the power balance works in the Pacific. She was released and had her Forum accreditation returned following what I have been told was some pretty intensive behind the scenes diplomatic pressure from Wellington. While many Pacific nations are doing fine as independent entities, others face daunting challenges that raise real questions about their status.
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