AGP Executive Report

Arts & Film: Pacific filmmakers are taking their own stories to major festivals across the Tasman, with short films rooted in Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and identity. At New Zealand’s Whānau Mārama and the Pasifika Film Festival, the Ngā Whanaunga Aotearoa programme spotlights Māori–Pasifika connections, including Cook Islands documentary The Kete Informs You, following artist Ta’i Paitai as he weaves a kete to explore creative identity and contemporary culture. Regional Culture & Business: Australia and Thailand’s leaders reaffirmed plans to deepen economic engagement, explicitly pointing to cooperation in areas like education, healthcare, critical technologies—and creative industries—plus a new Bangkok art-destination partnership involving MONA. Sporting Spotlight: Pacific athletes keep turning heads internationally, from Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume’s upcoming interim welterweight title fight in Auckland to American Samoa’s historic flag football upset over the United States. Media Scrutiny: A Fiji Times front-page interview featuring Malimali has drawn sharp criticism for not asking hard questions about a documented judge-counsel boundary controversy tied to a criminal appeal.

Pacific filmmaking: At NZIFF and the Pasifika Film Festival, Pacific short films are taking centre stage, with the Ngā Whanaunga Aotearoa programme spotlighting Māori–Pasifika connections. Cook Islands cinematographer Andrew McGeorge’s documentary The Kete Informs You follows Ta’i Paitai weaving a kete to explore creative identity and contemporary culture, while McGeorge also shot Sāmoan filmmaker Marina Alofagia McCartney’s surreal The Return. Global music & culture: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup is set for Sept 26 in Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Score’s 30th anniversary), plus Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Sporting spotlight: Pacific athletes keep making waves, from Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume’s upcoming interim welterweight title fight in Auckland to American Samoa’s historic flag football win over the United States. Football governance: New Zealand has withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress” under his leadership after his FFE proposal was dropped.

Pacific Film Spotlight: Filmmakers from across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa are taking centre stage at major festivals in New Zealand and the Pacific, with short films that foreground identity and lived experience. At Whānau Mārama (NZIFF) and the Pasifika Film Festival, Ngā Whanaunga Aotearoa highlights Māori–Pasifika connections, including The Kete Informs You, a documentary by Cook Islands cinematographer Andrew McGeorge following Kūki ‘Āirani artist Ta’i Paitai as he weaves a kete to explore creative identity and contemporary culture. Arts & Culture on the Global Stage: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup has been announced for Sept. 26 in New York’s Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Score), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Sport Meets Spotlight: Pacific athletes keep turning heads internationally, from Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume’s upcoming interim welterweight title fight in Auckland to American Samoa’s historic flag football win over the United States. Football Governance Watch: New Zealand has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, while Oceania’s confederation praised “progress” under his leadership after his FFE proposal was dropped.

Creative Industries & Arts: Australia and Thailand leaders highlighted cooperation that includes creative industries and a major new Bangkok art destination, with Mona partnering with Asset World Corporation, plus Google’s TalayLink cable linking the two countries. Music & Global Entertainment: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup was announced for Sept. 26 in New York’s Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman and featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Sporting Culture (Boxing): Papua New Guinea’s John Ume will fight Hamza Perwaisy for the BX-9 interim welterweight title in Auckland on Oct. 3, with training in Sydney and a community visit to Resurrection school in Oro. Football Governance (Oceania): New Zealand withdrew support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s FFE plan, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress” under his leadership and called for continued confidence-building.

Australia–Thailand Deal: Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Anutin Charnvirakul backed deeper economic ties, pointing to tripled two-way trade under the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement and pledging full TAFTA implementation. They also flagged cooperation across agriculture and food, clean energy, education, healthcare, critical technologies, and creative industries—including a new Bangkok art destination involving Australia’s MONA and Thailand’s Asset World, plus AI and emerging tech. Pacific Sports & Culture: Pacific athletes kept the spotlight on the international stage, from Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume’s upcoming BX-9 interim welterweight title fight in Auckland (after a broken hand sidelined Riley Allan) to American Samoa’s historic Flag Football World Championships upset over the United States—plus community moments like Ume visiting the Resurrection school in Oro. Football Governance: New Zealand formally withdrew support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his FFE plan was scrapped, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress achieved” under his leadership. Global Music Event: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup was announced for Sept. 26 in New York’s Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, and more, with free tickets earned via action on the Global Citizen app.

Pacific Sporting Spotlight: Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume is set to fight Hamza Perwaisy for the BX-9 Interim Welterweight title in Auckland on October 3, after Riley Allan’s broken hand reshuffled the path to the undisputed belt; Ume will train in Sydney and has been sharing his journey with students back home in Oro. Football Governance Watch: New Zealand has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and is calling for an independent review, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress achieved” under his leadership after the fallout over a plan to sell FIFA competition stakes. Global Music & Live Events: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup has been announced for Central Park on September 26, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, and more, hosted by Hugh Jackman. Regional Identity & Culture: A closer look at Nauru’s bid for attention highlights its bold name change to the Republic of Naoero, with Nauruans now styled dei-Naoero.

Pacific sports spotlight: Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume is set to fight Hamza Perwaisy for the BX-9 Interim Welterweight title in Auckland on October 3, after Riley Allan suffered a broken hand; the winner then faces Allan for the undisputed belt, with Ume training in Sydney and even visiting the Resurrection school in Oro to share his journey. Football governance shake-up: New Zealand has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and is calling for an independent review, while the Oceania Football Confederation welcomed the scrapped FFE plan but praised “progress” under his leadership. Big music event: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup was announced for September 26 in Central Park, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, hosted by Hugh Jackman. Regional identity news: A closer look at Nauru’s push for attention, including its recent name change to the Republic of Naoero and “dei-Naoero” identity.

Pacific Sports Spotlight: Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume is set to fight Hamza Perwaisy for the BX-9 Interim Welterweight title in Auckland on October 3, after Riley Allan’s broken hand reshuffled the path to the undisputed belt; Ume is training in Sydney and has been sharing his journey with students at the Resurrection school in Oro. Football Governance Watch: New Zealand has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and is calling for an independent review, while the Oceania Football Confederation welcomed the scrapped FFE plan but praised “progress” under his leadership. Global Music & Live Events: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup was announced for September 26 in Central Park, featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, and more, with tickets free via action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Identity & Rebrand: A report looks at Nauru’s audacious name change to the Republic of Naoero as a bid for fresh visibility. Tuvalu Travel for Culture Lovers: A new guide invites readers to “Talofa” to Tuvalu, highlighting Funafuti arrival, lagoon life, and year-round warm weather for swimming and snorkelling.

Global Citizen Festival: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival is set for September 26 in New York’s Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, with Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King joining the bill. Musical highlights include Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating 30 years of The Score), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, with tickets free via action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Identity & Rebranding: A new story looks at how small nations try to reshape their image, including Nauru’s bold move to change its name to the Republic of Naoero and reframe who “Nauruans” are—an arts-and-culture angle on soft power. Tuvalu Travel & Culture: A fresh Tuvalu visitor guide spotlights Funafuti and the atolls, from lagoon swims and snorkeling to slow-paced village life, with practical notes on getting there and using the Australian dollar. Football Governance Watch: New Zealand has withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions was scrapped; Oceania’s confederation praised “progress” under his leadership while calling for continued momentum.

Football & Governance: New Zealand Football has formally withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after trust broke down over his proposed plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors; the Oceania Football Confederation, meeting in Fiji, welcomed the scrapping of the proposal as “progress achieved” but stopped short of removing its backing, while also praising Infantino’s decade-long leadership. Global Music & Charity: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup is set for Central Park on September 26, hosted by Hugh Jackman, with Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Score’s 30th anniversary), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, plus appearances by Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King; tickets are free via action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Identity & Travel: A fresh travel feature invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu,” highlighting Funafuti’s lagoons, snorkeling, community life, and year-round warm weather, with travel routes via Fiji and the Australian dollar used on the islands.

Global Citizen Festival: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup is set for September 26 in New York’s Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, with Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King joining the bill. Headliners include Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Fugees’ The Score’s 30th anniversary), plus Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Tuvalu Travel & Culture: A fresh travel feature invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu,” highlighting Funafuti’s turquoise lagoons, quiet villages, and community traditions, with tips on arriving via Funafuti International Airport, exploring by foot or bicycle, and enjoying year-round swimming and snorkeling in calm lagoon waters. Football Governance Watch (Oceania): New Zealand has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his FFE plan was dropped, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress” under his leadership and called the moment a step forward.

Football & Trust: New Zealand Football has formally withdrawn its support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after a proposal to sell stakes in FIFA competitions was scrapped, citing a breakdown in trust; Oceania Football Confederation leaders in Fiji praised “progress achieved” under his decade-long leadership while stopping short of removing support. Global Music & Philanthropy: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup for Central Park (Sept 26) is set with Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Score’s 30th anniversary), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, hosted by Hugh Jackman with Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King; tickets are free via action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Identity & Rebranding: A new story looks at how small nations try to reset their image—starting with Nauru’s bold name change to the Republic of Naoero and “dei-Naoero” for its people—showing how culture and politics can collide in public branding. Tuvalu Travel Spotlight: A fresh travel feature invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu,” highlighting Funafuti and lagoon life, easy island exploring, and year-round warm weather for swimming and snorkelling. Regional Anxiety: Another column, “Oceans of anxiety,” ties Pacific security and defence partnerships to rising political tension with China, including new agreements involving Tuvalu and other island states.

Global Music & Philanthropy: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup is set for Sept. 26 in Central Park, hosted by Hugh Jackman, with Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean (celebrating The Score’s 30th anniversary), Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER—tickets are free and earned through action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Travel & Culture: A fresh travel feature invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu,” highlighting Funafuti’s lagoon life, easy exploring by foot or bicycle, boat trips to islets and reefs, and year-round warm weather for swimming and snorkeling. Identity & Rebranding: A commentary looks at what happens when a country tries to rebrand itself, using Nauru’s bold name change as a case study in how nations reshape identity and soft power. Football Governance Watch: New Zealand has withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino after his FFE proposal was scrapped, while the Oceania Football Confederation praised “progress” under his leadership and called for continued confidence-building.

Global Citizen Festival: Global Citizen has unveiled the 2026 lineup for its Central Park show on September 26, hosted by Hugh Jackman and featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER—tickets are free via action on the Global Citizen app. Tuvalu Travel Spotlight: A new guide invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu,” highlighting Funafuti’s easy exploring, lagoon life for swimming and snorkelling, and year-round warm weather with the Australian dollar used. Pacific Rebrand Talk: A report looks at what happens when a country tries to rebrand itself by changing its name, using Nauru’s shift to “Republic of Naoero” as the example. Regional Politics & Arts-Adjacent Culture: Commentary on Australia and New Zealand’s tightening security ties with Pacific partners, including Tuvalu, frames the wider mood shaping the region’s public life. Ocean Protection & Creative Nature: National Geographic Pristine Seas begins a Samoa expedition to survey marine life in newly protected waters, supporting Samoa’s plan to safeguard 30% of its ocean.

Global Citizen Festival: Global Citizen has unveiled the 2026 lineup for its free Central Park show on September 26, hosted by Hugh Jackman and featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, with ticket access earned through action on the Global Citizen app. Pacific Identity & Travel: A travel feature invites readers to “Discover Tuvalu” with tips on arriving via Funafuti International Airport, exploring the atoll by foot or bicycle, and enjoying lagoon swimming and snorkelling year-round. Regional Politics & Culture: A commentary looks at how New Zealand and Australia’s trade with China is colliding with tougher security ties in the Pacific, including defence partnerships involving Tuvalu. Ocean Stories: National Geographic Pristine Seas begins a Samoa expedition to survey marine life in newly protected waters, supporting Samoa’s plan to safeguard 30% of its ocean.

Pacific identity & branding: Nauru is reportedly rebranding itself as the Republic of Naoero, with Nauruans becoming dei-Naoero—an audacious move aimed at restoring Indigenous naming after decades of anglicised pronunciation. Tuvalu travel spotlight: A fresh “Discover Tuvalu” guide highlights Funafuti as a walkable, bicycle-friendly atoll, with lagoon time for swimming and snorkelling, plus year-round warm weather and travel links via Fiji. Regional arts exchange: Taiwan and Hawaiʻi’s Indigenous communities marked the CIP’s 30th anniversary with the Formosa-Hawaii Cultural Festival, bringing Austronesian music and dance to New Taipei City. Ocean culture & science: Samoa’s marine protection push is getting a National Geographic Pristine Seas survey to map biodiversity across new protected areas—supporting a plan to safeguard 30% of the ocean. Education & future-making: An Uzbekistani student’s profile at CUHK frames engineering study as a cultural and community journey, from hands-on robotics to a “greenest campus” draw.