Jeffrey Kaitip doesn’t need the latest scientific modelling to understand the likely effects of sea level rises. He experiences them everyday. The Vanuatu planning officer is one of three Pacific Islands local government representatives who visited the Hunter Council recently to discuss climate change.

Nine national trainers and 22 participants consisting of village council mayors, government women representatives, NGOs and public servants were part of a recent Gender in Local Government (GLG) roll-out workshop in Apia, Samoa. The program was supported jointly by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Samoa.

Kokopo/Vanamami Urban Local-level Government (ULLG) in the East New Britain Province of PNG and Mt. Baker District Council of South Australia are recent partners in the PNG Good Practice Scheme. Recently four officers from Kokopo attended a short intensive training visit to Mt. Baker.

The government of the Cook Islands wants to see island councils take more responsibility in running their respective islands – as opposed to island secretaries doing this because they believe it to be their responsibility.