New Zealand unveils multi-million-dollar boost for Fiji’s health and climate response

The New Zealand Government has announced $4 million in support of Fiji’s response to its national HIV outbreak.

Fiji declared an HIV outbreak in January, with 490 new cases from October to December last year, bringing the total number of cases in 2024 to 1583.

Following the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva this week, Pacific Peoples Minister, Dr Shane Reti, reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Pacific-led priorities and announced new support for climate resilience and public health.

“This week’s Forum focused on strengthening regional ties and tackling key challenges like economic development, banking access, and labour mobility,” Reti says.

“Fiji is facing a serious public health crisis, and New Zealand is proud to stand alongside them.

“This funding will support efforts to reduce transmission, improve treatment, and fight stigma.”

Watch the opening remarks from the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva.

The outbreak is attributed to the surge in methamphetamine use, a practice known as “bluetoothing”, and alarming rates of needle-sharing.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an outbreak occurs when the number of cases exceeds what is usually expected, typically affecting a localised geographic area.

The WHO says in 2023, the Western Pacific region saw 53,000 AIDS-related deaths, with 2.3 million people living with HIV and 140,000 new infections, highlighting significant challenges in curbing the epidemic.

Dr Shane Reti and Fiji’s Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu. Photo/Supplied

Additionally, Reti launched Fiji’s NZ$3.2 million participation in the Pacific Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management Partnership.

The partnership will run from 2025 to 2029 in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The partnership aims to assist Fiji in addressing climate change challenges, with scientists from New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science Institute, formerly Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, working alongside Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

This will provide support for cost-effective soil monitoring, enabling farmers to sustainably improve productivity and climate-resilient landscape planning by analysing environmental and socio-economic data.

At the partnership announcement in Suva this week, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Tomasi Tunabuna highlighted the importance of the collaboration between New Zealand and Fiji in developing resilience to the impending effects of climate change.

Dr Shane Reti and Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Tomasi Tunabuna. Photo/Supplied

“In the Duavata Partnership established between our two nations, it is imperative that we consistently emphasise the significance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a common objective for our efforts, aimed at enhancing the well-being of our citizens and the health of our planet,” Tunabuna says.

“As island nations, we are faced with a daily dilemma in finding the best solutions that will ensure food and income security for our communities. This task will involve the use of adaptive, scientifically proven farming systems that can be easily adopted and are affordable to our farmers.”

Reti says a key part of the partnership is the establishment of communities of practice.

“This investment will help develop climate-resilient crops, restore soil health, and support sustainable farming practices in Fiji,” Reti says. “New Zealand is backing Pacific leadership and resilience on the issues that matter most.”