King’s Birthday Honours (Niue links): Niuean sport and governance figure Beatrice Faumuinā has been named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, with the wider list recognising 178 New Zealanders across community, education, health and sport. Tourism trade & MSMEs: Fiji’s Parliament scrutiny of South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) spending highlights the push to connect Pacific small businesses to global buyers, with SPTE 2026 reporting 225+ participants and a new Industry Day plus Women in Business showcase. Ocean financing for resilience: Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) is framed as a sovereign-led model turning ocean protection into long-term, law-backed conservation and climate resilience funding via the NOW Trust and a large “no-take” marine protected area. Creative industries: Niuean playwright Vela Manusaute’s “Sons of Vao” lands on Auckland Theatre Company’s main stage as the first Niuean story presented there, bringing Niuean language and culture into mainstream audiences. Tourism product spotlight: A travel feature spotlights Niue’s humpback whale season and low-traffic access, positioning marine experiences as a premium, regulated draw for visitors. Regional shipping connectivity: A Cook Islands inter-island vessel inauguration in China underscores ongoing Pacific efforts to strengthen island transport links.