Former Cook Islands premier Pacific leader
AVARUA: Former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna is the new secretarygeneral of the Pacific Islands Forum, after a marathon online meeting.
Puna was yesterday voted in over Micronesia's candidate, Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States Gerald Zackious, by nine to eight.
The outgoing secretarygeneral, Papua New Guinea's Dame Meg Taylor, had been in the role for more than six years.
Regional divisions over who should replace her emerged last year.
Micronesian states threatened to leave the forum if the role was not given to their candidate, saying that it was Micronesia's turn, citing a pledge to rotate the post by subregion.
However, Polynesian and Melanesian countries backed their own candidates.
With leaders unable to reach consensus in Wednesday night's special retreat, the appointment process went to a vote, which resulted in three eliminations and a final vote after midnight.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the few national leaders of the 18 member states or territories not to attend the online meeting. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta logged on instead. — RNZ