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PASAI gathers audit staff in Samoa to promote effective stakeholder engagement and updates high commissions on its work

Apia, Samoa: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) delivered stakeholder engagement training to 16 staff (12 female, 4 male) from 11 public audit offices from 23 to 26 February 2026.

The staff were from the audit offices of American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

During the 4-day in-person workshop, participants learned practical steps to maximise their engagement with stakeholders such as the legislature, audited entities, the media and the public.

Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Mike Scott, led the training and explained, “Three months ago we ran this workshop in Guam for members in the North Pacific.

“This time we catered mostly to audit offices with a parliamentary system of government, supporting our members to actively reach out to their stakeholders and involve them in their work, and to effectively communicate audit findings and follow up audit recommendations, to increase the impact of their work.  

“We also shared ways our members can report on how well they do their work and how their work has a positive impact on the lives of citizens."

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, and Communications Advisor, Luke Eaton, co-facilitated the workshop.

Workshop facilitators guided participants on communications principles, crafting actionable recommendations, drafting media releases, maximising their impact with social media content, and incorporating multimedia into audit reports and related communications material.

As with the training in Guam, the workshop included pre-recorded content prepared by the Executive Director of the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, as well as senior staff at the Office of the Auditor General of the Republic of Fiji and the New Zealand Office of the Auditor-General.

Mr Scott was very grateful for these contributions saying, “This knowledge-sharing sparked discussion among workshop participants on the role civil society organisations can play in the accountability system and how improved engagement with parliaments may lead to better audit impact.

“It was also very beneficial for us that strategic communications partners from the New Zealand audit office joined the workshop remotely to respond to the questions of participants.”

All participants presented short- and long-term plans for how they can implement lessons from the workshop customised to the realities they face with their various stakeholders.

During the week, Ms Lameko-Poutoa and PASAI’s Samoa-based Program Director, Susana Laulu, met with the Second Secretary at the New Zealand High Commission to Samoa, Jordan Allison, to update his office on the aims of the workshop and other support PASAI is providing in the region.

Following the workshop, the 4 PASAI staff members met with the First Secretary at the Australian High Commission to Samoa, Greg Furness, and Tautai Deputy Program Director, Charmina Saili, to provide a similar update and to discuss ways PASAI can coordinate future work with the objectives of the commission’s economic governance program, Tautai.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Stakeholder engagement workshop facilitators and participants

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa; Second Secretary, New Zealand High Commission to Samoa, Jordan Allison; and PASAI Program Director, Susana Laulu

Tautai Deputy Program Director, Charmina Saili; PASAI Acting Deputy Chief Executive, Mike Scott; First Secretary, Australian High Commission to Samoa, Greg Furness; PASAI Program Director, Susana Laulu; PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa; and PASAI Communications Advisor, Luke Eaton

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Contact information:

Mike Scott, Acting Deputy Chief Executive PASAI
E: mike.scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI on the ground in Papua New Guinea for financial and compliance audit support

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Program Director for the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Susana Laulu, spent the week providing in-person technical support to the staff at the Papua New Guinea Auditor-General’s Office (AGO).

One mission objective was to assess whether the AGO had, since 2023, implemented recommendations enabling it to perform financial audits at high standards.

Ms Laulu said that PASAI will always support the AGO to comply with international audit standards, adding, “I was reassured to see significant improvements indicating a commitment to audit quality.”

Ms Laulu also brainstormed topics with the AGO’s compliance audit team and provided training to staff on steps to identify audit criteria and subject matters for effective planning.

She explained, “Compliance audits help ensure that public officials and institutions are following the rules, laws, policies and executive directives they’re meant to uphold.

“A compliance audit can either reveal to those we are auditing what needs to change or it can provide assurance to the public that the government entity is applying laws and regulations fairly and consistently – there is great value in either outcome.”

Ms Laulu paid a courtesy visit to the Counsellor / Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand High Commission to Papua New Guinea, Charlie Gillard, to update him on PASAI’s support to the AGO.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Program Director, Susana Laulu (right), conducting a brainstorming session with staff from the Auditor-General’s Office

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Contact information:

Susana Laulu, Program Director PASAI
E: susana.laulu@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Navigating gift giving in the Pacific public service

The Samoa Public Service Commission will lead the first ‘Share Learn Connect’ session for 2026 by sharing the background, analysis and development process that informed its Gift Giving Policy. 

Gift giving is a deeply rooted cultural practice across the Pacific – one that can strengthen relationships, respect and connection. At Fono 2025, Pacific leaders raised the importance of clear gift giving policies to maintain the balance between this important cultural practice while demonstrating integrity and ethical conduct within their public services.

This Public Service Fale session is open to all Pacific public servants, especially policy leaders and those in Human Resources. This session supports the Fale’s shared goal of strengthening ethical leadership and promoting consistent standards within public services across the region.

Share Learn Connect events provide the opportunity for Pacific public service colleagues to deepen understanding, strengthen capability and connect through shared learning.

Presenter: Osana Liki-Ward, Assistant Secretary, Samoa Public Service Commission
Date: Thursday 26 February 2026
Time: 11 am – 12.30 pm NZT
Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams

Participants must register online before the close of business on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

Three more Pacific Island audit offices on track to upgrade in-house quality management systems

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is continuing to support the staff of 3 Pacific Island government audit offices to set up a formal system of audit quality management (SoAQM) with a second in-person workshop, starting today.

The first workshop in August 2025 covered the main concepts of the processes in the SoAQM such as quality risk management, monitoring quality and remediation of deficiencies, and the evaluation of the system. It also equipped participants to carry out a needs analysis assessment.

Five staff (2 female and 3 male) from the government audit offices of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the FSM State of Kosrae and Tonga gathered in Auckland this week to participate in the 3-day SoAQM workshop.

PASAI, in cooperation with the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI) and with the support of senior staff from the Office of the Auditor-General of New Zealand and Audit New Zealand, has already helped 5 other audit offices work towards establishing fit-for-purpose systems of audit quality management over the last 2 years.

Fiji-based Program Director, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, is facilitating the training and said, “This second workshop will help the participants to develop a bespoke SoAQM action plan and policy for each audit office.

“All program participants have been involved in documenting their offices’ needs analysis and will be part of the team implementing an SoAQM,” she added.

Manager Methodology from Audit New Zealand, Stuart Cormack, joined a workshop session online to share insights from his experience in implementing a system of audit quality management.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Program Director, Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba (third from left), with SoAQM workshop participants

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Contact information:

Meresimani Vosawale-Katuba, Program Director PASAI
E: Meresimani.VosawaleKatuba@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Professional ethics a continued focus for Pacific Island government auditors

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is collaborating with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) to deliver professional ethics training to government auditors, starting yesterday.

This activity seeks to ensure those responsible for carrying out the mandates of Pacific Island government audit offices receive specialised professional ethics and integrity training.  

Ninety-two staff (61 female, 31 male) from the government audit offices of American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) National, FSM Chuuk, FSM Kosrae, FSM Pohnpei, FSM Yap, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu registered to participate in the training that covers the fundamental ethical principles governing the work of accountants and auditors working in the public sector.

PASAI Program Director and course facilitator, Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, said, “This year’s training builds on the course we ran last year on the ‘Essentials of the Code’.

“It highlights the significance of trust, the expectations of those working in the public sector, the importance of setting the right culture to support ethical behaviour and the need for senior leadership to ensure they have the right systems in place to manage risk effectively.

“It will promote and encourage SAIs to establish processes and practices to ensure government audit staff adhere to ethical obligations and call out breaches to enhance integrity in government systems.”

After yesterday’s introductory workshop, participants will have until 13 February to complete a self-paced micro-course on PASAI’s online Learning Platform.

The micro-course includes videos of the Auditor-General of Australia, Dr Caralee McLiesh, and the former Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand, John Ryan, sharing insights on the importance of ethics in the public sector.

Small cohort interactive workshops will follow allowing participants to discuss how to apply ethical principles to their working environments, share experiences and learn from expert facilitators and peers.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Program Director PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: sina.iosefo@pasai.org  P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI Chief Executive in Chuuk State advocating for good governance

Weno, Chuuk State: Chief Executive for the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Esther Lameko-Poutoa, visited Chuuk State of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from 29 January to 2 February 2026 to advocate for the Office of the Chuuk State Public Auditor, coinciding with the 2026 FSM Auditors’ Conference.

Public auditors from FSM’s national and 4 state audit offices convene annually for in-person capability development, knowledge sharing and stakeholder meetings.

PASAI Program Director, Sophia H Pretrick, who is based in Pohnpei State, accompanied Ms Lameko-Poutoa on her mission, arriving before the stakeholder meetings with Chuuk State leaders.

“Chuuk State has been without an officially appointed Public Auditor for nearly 2 years, so it was important for me to advocate with the audit offices at their stakeholder meetings,” Ms Lameko-Poutoa explained.

The Governor’s representatives and leaders from Chuuk State’s House of Representatives and House of Senate attended the meetings.

Of the meetings, Ms Lameko-Poutoa said, “The advocacy was mainly to foster mutual respect, enhance partnerships with the Legislature, lift their understanding of the role of public auditors and the importance of audit independence, support oversight functions and ensure the Chuuk State Office of the Public Auditor receives sufficient support.

“The Legislature is one of the most important stakeholders of public audit offices.

“The advocacy with the leaders highlighted the common challenges facing all audit offices in the FSM.”  

National Public Auditor, Haser Hainrick, emphasised the need to enhance partnerships between the audit offices and the legislatures, saying, “They must work together to exercise the oversight function. 

“Success for one audit office is success for all,” he added.

Vice President of the Senate, Wisney Nakayama, explained that he supports the Office of the Chuuk State Public Auditor’s development. 

Recruitment of the Chuuk State Public Auditor is currently in progress.

Ms Lameko-Poutoa explained functional public financial management systems are underpinned by good working relationships between public auditors and the legislative and executive branches of government.

“When audit offices are sufficiently resourced, can operate independently and are given information they need, their audits and investigations have the best chance to result in positive impacts for the people governments serve,” she said.

The targeted support provided to the staff of the Chuuk audit office included guidance on the next steps in the review of its audit legislation following the meetings, continuous engagement with the Legislature, audit follow-up and internal governance matters.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

(From L to R) US Graduate School Trainer, Drummond Khan; Kosrae State Public Auditor, Palikkun Kilafasru; PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa; National Public Auditor, Haser H Hainrick; House of Senate Vice President, Hon Wisney Nakayama, Pohnpei State Public Auditor, Erick Paul; Yap State Public Auditor, Bryan Dabugsiy; Acting Chuuk State Public Auditor, Sarah Mori, Pohnpei Office of the Public Auditor, Sanjay KC; PASAI Program Director, Sophia H Pretrick; Audit Manager for the Office of the National Public Auditor, Midson Tom; Chairman of the Judiciary and Governmental Relations Committee (JGRC), Nelson Stephens; and Vice Chairman of the JGRC, Pius Onopey

With House of Representatives Speaker, Hon Lester Danny Mersai (centre), Floor Leader, Hon Wayne Olap (third from right); and Chairman of Ways & Means, Hon Jessy P William (second from right)

With Acting Governor, Dr Bosco Buligy (centre); and Chief of Staff, Arthur II Irons (far left)

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Contact information:

Sophia H Pretrick, Program Director PASAI
E: sophia.pretrick@pasai.org  P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Webinar to launch the World Public Sector Report 2025

The World Public Sector Report 2025, published by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), examines the role of SAIs in the implementation, follow up and review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report highlights how SAIs are emerging as critical partners in advancing the SDGs. Through their audits, SAIs provide governments with evidence-based insights that strengthen accountability and accelerate progress toward inclusive and sustainable development.

Since 2016, SAIs have conducted hundreds of SDG-related audits, influencing national policies, laws and institutional arrangements. These audits have helped embed SDG priorities into governance frameworks and informed strategies for fiscal sustainability, equity and climate resilience.

The report’s launch webinar will comprise a presentation of the report, comments by public administration experts and a discussion.

It will start at 2 am on Saturday 31 January 2026 (NZT) so will likely be difficult to join live, but please register for a recording to be sent to you afterwards.

Yap State audit office benefits from PASAI’s organisational and HR support

Colonia, Yap: Program Director for the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, spent this week providing in-person technical support to the staff at the Office of the Yap State Public Auditor in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Early in the week Ms Palamo-Iosefo reviewed the office’s strategic management systems and supported staff to establish processes to monitor and report on the office’s performance against its strategic plan.

Her organisational support included reviewing the office’s overall audit plan for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2026 and working with the Audit Manager, Makereta Dyer, and Chief Investigator, Marie Lamaar, to establish processes to develop an overall audit plan.

Ms Palamo-Iosefo explained, “The established processes now ensure guidance is available and the audit office’s organisational planning practices are sustained.

“One of my objectives was to train staff on the importance of strategic audit planning so the audit office can focus on key government priorities and matters of public interest, maximise its audit coverage, submit reports in a timely manner and conduct quality and impactful audits and investigations,” she said.

As well as technical support, Ms Palamo-Iosefo worked with Ms Dyer and the Administrative Assistance, Maxine Finnginam, to review the office’s human resource (HR) management practices.

To implement the office’s existing HR strategy, Ms Palamo-Iosefo also supported staff to identify competencies needed for individuals and create a learning and professional development (LPD) plan.

“Audit offices can support staff competency development by refining job profiles, creating LPD plans and maintaining databases of staff progress towards professional certification,” Ms Palamo-Iosefo said.

Yap State Public Auditor, Bryan Dabugsiy, said, “We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of PASAI, whose guidance continues to strengthen our organisational operations, from human resource development and strategic planning, to clarifying the vital roles each team member plays in fulfilling our mandate.

“PASAI’s consistent partnership empowers us to advance our mission with greater impact, capacity and purpose,” he said.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Program Director, Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo (front row, left) and Yap State Public Auditor, Bryan Dabugsiy (front row, centre), with staff from the Office of the Yap State Public Auditor

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Contact information:

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Program Director PASAI
E: sina.iosefo@pasai.org  P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI’s 44th Governing Board meeting

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) held its 44th Governing Board meeting on 13 and 14 November 2025, chaired by Florence Bonnafoux, President of the Territorial Chamber of Accounts of New Caledonia. 

PASAI’s Secretary-General and Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand, Grant Taylor, attended along with other Pacific Island-based board members, PASAI Secretariat staff and Office of the Secretary-General staff, and were joined online with representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa, and the Secretariat’s program directors reported on progress implementing PASAI’s operational plan during the first quarter of the 2025–26 financial year.

The Governing Board noted the work of a charter review subgroup who have been consulting with members on desired changes while preparing PASAI to comply with revisions to the legislation under which it is incorporated as an entity.

Board members considered various reports and received updates on upcoming cooperative audit opportunities for PASAI’s member government audit offices.

The Governing Board considered work completed on the project to rollout ‘A-SEAT’ in the region as PASAI's recommended and supported online audit management platform, since it last met in late August. It agreed the critical next steps are to establish which member offices want to become users of the tool and to get details about their IT infrastructure to inform the support needs for the rollout.

Board members and staff also had a fruitful governance and performance reporting training session with the Chair of the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Craig Fisher.

The Secretariat expresses its gratitude to the Governing Board members for their ongoing assistance and acknowledges the support of its development partners, MFAT and DFAT.

Attendees of PASAI’s 44th Governing Board meeting

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Audit staff gather in Guam to hone their stakeholder engagement skills

Hagåtña, Guam: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) delivered stakeholder engagement training to 16 staff (8 female, 8 male) from 9 public audit offices from 17 to 20 November 2025.

The staff were from the audit offices of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the FSM states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and Palau.

During the 4-day in-person workshop, participants learned practical steps to maximise their engagement with stakeholders such as the legislature, audited entities, the media and the public.

Program Director, Mike Scott, leads PASAI’s stakeholder management program and explained, “We aim to improve our members’ ability to effectively communicate audit findings, increase the impact of their work and demonstrate their value to the lives of citizens in the Pacific."

PASAI Chief Executive, Esther Lameko-Poutoa; and Communications Advisor, Luke Eaton; co-facilitated the workshop at a training venue provided by the Guam Office of Public Accountability.

Workshop facilitators guided participants on communications principles, crafting actionable recommendations, drafting media releases, maximising their impact with social media content, and incorporating multimedia into audit reports and related communications material. The workshop built on previous PASAI training that includes developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement strategy, report writing, interpersonal communications and media interview preparation.

Mr Scott played a video that senior staff at the Office of the Auditor General of the Republic of Fiji had pre-recorded for their North Pacific counterparts explaining their engagement with members of the Fijian Parliament in reviewing the Audit Act. Beneficial reforms were later passed into law in the Fiji Audit Act 2025.

“The knowledge-sharing of the Fijian auditors sparked discussion among workshop participants on how they may be able to improve engagement with their legislatures to strengthen their offices’ independence,” he said.

Mr Scott also played a video made by the Executive Director of the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, Jeanette Calder, on the role civil society organisations can play in the accountability system, and one by senior staff at the New Zealand Office of the Auditor-General, Mark Evans (Director) and Giovanni Fesuiai (Sector Manager), on engagement with the Legislature to promote scrutiny, accountability and impact.

Strategic communications partners from the New Zealand audit office, Richard Scott and Cameron Webb, prepared some media- and social media-related workshop content for the participants to view and joined remotely to respond to questions.

All participants presented short- and long-term plans for how they can implement lessons from the workshop customised to the realities they face with their various stakeholders.

Mr Scott expressed satisfaction with the level of improvement demonstrated by participants, saying, “Attendees interacted enthusiastically with workshop content and invested serious energy into creating strategies that I’m confident will translate into tangible actions.”

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Stakeholder engagement workshop participants

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Contact information:

Mike Scott, Program Director PASAI
E: mike.scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

CNMI public audit office gets week of organisational assistance from PASAI

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: Program Director for the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, is spending a week in the Northern Mariana Islands providing in-person technical support to the staff at the territory’s public audit office.

Ms Palamo-Iosefo started work at the Capitol Hill-based office on 20 October, supporting it to develop strategic management systems and an overall audit plan for the fiscal year that started this month.

On the importance of overall audit planning, Ms Palamo-Iosefo said, “It enables audit offices to focus on key government priorities and matters of public interest, maximise their audit coverage, submit reports in a timely manner and conduct quality and impactful audits and investigations.”

A draft process for developing the office’s overall audit plan was prepared for it to finalise and adopt.

Ms Palamo-Iosefo is working with the Temporary Public Auditor, Dora I Deleon Guerrero, and her staff, to identify competency gaps to address with individual learning and professional development plans.

She has also reviewed the office’s human resources strategy and helped staff plan the implementation of related policies and practices.

“All the activities performed this week are part of our work to strengthen internal governance and build the capability of our member audit offices,” Ms Palamo-Iosefo said.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

PASAI Program Director, Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo (far right), Temporary Public Auditor, Dora I Deleon Guerrero (second from left) and some of her staff from the Office of the Public Auditor for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

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Contact information:

Sinaroseta Palamo-Iosefo, Program Director PASAI
E: sina.iosefo@pasai.org  P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Clear calls to action in 9 Pacific Island audits on climate change adaptation actions

Auckland, New Zealand: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) has published a regional report on the audits of responses to climate-related matters by government agencies in 9 Pacific Island states.

Auditors from the government audit offices of the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu participated in the global cooperative audit initiative.

Each participating audit office in the Pacific region selected one of 3 audit topics; examining how well their governments are managing water resources, implementing climate change adaptation plans or actions, or taking action to adapt to the impact of sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Having provided guidance to the 9 Pacific Island audit teams since the audits started in 2024, PASAI Program Director and co-author of the report, Mike Scott, knows how personal this work is to the contributing auditors, saying, “The effects of climate change are real and literally at their doorsteps. 

“They are experiencing more intense and frequent cyclones, droughts and flooding, erosion and saline intrusion, causing loss of ancestral homes, displacement of people, and health risks, threatening food and water security, and endangering children’s futures.”

The Pacific regional report on climate change adaptation actions identified that governments need to act now to:

  • secure available financing and expertise

  • better plan and target measures where they are needed

  • more effectively implement measures through more coordinated and inclusive action

  • ensure accountability through monitoring and reporting of intended outcomes.

Staff from PASAI, the Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand and government audit offices in Australia (the Audit Office of New South Wales, the Audit Office of South Australia and the Queenland Audit Offfice) mentored the Pacific Island auditors to plan, conduct, publish and promote their own audit work that contributed to the regional report.

PASAI Secretary-General and Auditor-General of New Zealand, Grant Taylor, launched the regional report today and stated, “This report shows the important roles audit offices can have as the voice of communities.

“The small teams involved in this audit initiative overcame significant obstacles to engage with communities so they could properly understand the real effects of climate change and adaptation actions on them and their livelihoods.”

Deputy Director General at the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Development Initiative, Archana Shirsat, said, “Pacific Island audit offices have, once again, contributed positively to climate adaptation, this time as a part of a global cooperative audit.

“We fully support the calls for action based on the audits and urge governments and key stakeholders to work together for the benefit of people in the Pacific,” she said.

Secretary General of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Audit (WGEA), Dr Vivi Niemenmaa, said she was encouraged to see so many Pacific Island audit offices join this cooperative audit.

”Pacific Island nations are on the frontline of climate change impacts and their voices are essential in shaping global responses. The urgency for greater action extends to small island developing states across the world,” she said.

The INTOSAI Development Initiative and WGEA were both involved in providing training and audit support to the Pacific Island audit offices. As part of this audit support, an experienced member of the Auditor General’s Office of the Maldives, a fellow small island developing state audit office, also provided valuable advice.

The regional report, links to individual audit reports and videos from contributing auditors are at pasai.org/regional-reports.

A global report which includes findings from the Pacific region will be presented at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November 2025.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

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Contact information:

Mike Scott, Program Director PASAI
E: mike.scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

PASAI helping Tonga Office of the Auditor General to prepare for important performance audits

Nuku’alofa, Tonga: The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) is helping the Tonga Office of the Auditor General to prepare for upcoming performance audits by running a workshop for 22 of its staff this week.

PASAI Program Director, Mike Scott, is co-facilitating the 5-day workshop covering the fundamentals of undertaking impactful performance audits with independent contractor, Craig Neil.

Australia’s Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Tonga, Alison Gow, opened the workshop on Monday 22 September.

PASAI is working in partnership for the first time with the Tonga Australia Support Platform (TASP), which is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by DT Global.

Mr Scott explained, “The workshop is very practical and covers how to undertake a performance audit from planning to reporting, with opportunities for participants to apply what they are learning throughout.

“The Tonga Office of the Auditor General has important performance audits on its audit program including the effectiveness of management of waste in the outer islands and the effectiveness of the Tonga’s disaster recovery system.

“It is a privilege to be here to support this highly valuable work and a pleasure to work with the highly committed team at the Tonga Office of the Audit General.”

Acting Auditor-General, Cathreen Mafi, welcomed the practical skills that the staff at the Tonga Office of the Auditor General are gaining form the workshop, saying, “My staff and I are picking up many things that we can apply in our work from the valuable guidance and advice that Mr Scott and Mr Neil have shared with us from their extensive experience as performance audit practitioners.

“We are looking forward to the last day of the workshop when we will apply this training by starting to plan 2 of our upcoming performance audits”.

Lotomo’ua Tu’ungafasi will become Tonga’s new Auditor General from 20 October 2025 for a 5-year term. PASAI congratulates Ms Tu’ungafasi on her appointment.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Tonga Office of the Auditor General staff with (front row, left to right) the Acting Auditor-General, Cathreen Mafi; workshop co-facilitator, Craig Neil; Australia’s Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Tonga, Alison Gow; and PASAI Program Director, Mike Scott

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Contact information:
Mike Scott, Program Director PASAI
E: mike.scott@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release

Collective Pacific voices on climate change action: Lessons from co-operative performance audits I Zoom webinar – 2 October 1 pm NZT

 
 

Climate change is a significant issue for Pacific nations. This webinar will spotlight the collaborative efforts of 9 Pacific countries participating in a global initiative to enhance climate adaptation through performance audits. These audits led by supreme audit institutions (SAIs) play a vital role in promoting public accountability and ensuring that significant investments deliver meaningful outcomes.

Join us as we explore common themes and findings from these audits, and hear from regional leaders about their impact and value in driving more effective climate adaptation strategies. This session is a great chance to learn how Pacific countries are working together to tackle climate change and make sure their efforts are effective.

The session will be chaired by our Secretary-General (and Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand), Grant Taylor. Our panel will feature Finau Nagera, Auditor General of Fiji, and Junior Patrick, Auditor General of the Marshall Islands. Presentations will be given by Mike Scott, PASAI Program Director, and Karen Wong, Performance Audit Manager at the Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand.

Please register for this event. After you submit your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with your unique Zoom link and a way to add this to your calendar. If you have any issues, contact international@oag.parliament.nz.

We encourage you to forward this invitation to those you think may be interested in this event, all are welcome.

This event is led by the Office of the Auditor-General of New Zealand but forms part of our advocacy and good governance program.

Register for free, online course on auditing water issues

The National Audit Office of Estonia and the University of Tartu invite everyone interested in environmental auditing to sign up for a massive open online course (MOOC) on planning a performance audit on water-related issues.

The MOOC is:

  • free of charge

  • fully remote and self-paced

  • providing a certificate (1 ECTS) to those who pass all course tests successfully

  • starting from Monday 15 September 2025.

Guidance of the INTOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing as well as relevant experiences of SAIs from the European region have been used to develop course materials. While some sections of the MOOC are more Europe-oriented, the course is still relevant to SAIs from around the world.

Participants must register online.

Heads of the Pacific’s government audit offices gather in New Caledonia for PASAI’s 26th Congress

Nouméa, New Caledonia: More than 60 people from countries across the Pacific and as far afield as Austria, Norway South Africa and the United States of America attended the 26th Congress of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), attracting the presence of the President of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga, and the French Ambassador to the Pacific, Véronique Roger-Lacan.

Representatives of 24 PASAI member offices attended the 4-day meeting hosted by the Territorial Chamber of Accounts from 26 to 29 August 2025 in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

The theme of the Congress was, “Audit impact for improved accountability and transparency.” 

In his opening address, President Ponga expressed his view that in carrying out the fundamental tasks of transparency, responsibility and independent control, government audit offices drive the improvement of public services and are essential for functional political systems.

Ambassador Roger-Lacan spoke of the maturation of good governance models and that citizens have increasingly higher expectations of public accountability and transparency.

In a keynote address by the Deputy Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), Maria Fuata said that sustainable development is not possible without accountability and that in the Pacific, we must pursue the best value for every public program, initiative and service.

With an appointment that began on 3 July 2025, the Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand, Grant Taylor, in his capacity as the Secretary-General of PASAI, spoke of gaining a strong sense of collaboration and unified commitment to audit quality among members at the Congress event.

“We all work to create a tension that influences legislatures to direct public expenditure to where it is needed most,” Mr Taylor said.

Auditors general, public auditors and others in similar roles from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island sub-regions of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, as well as PASAI Secretariat staff and other stakeholders with an interest in national integrity and public financial management systems discussed a range of issues during the gathering.

Through a series of panel discussions, Congress attendees reflected on matters related to adhering to international auditing standards in small island developing states, enhancing audit quality through regional collaboration and strengthening collaborative work with legislatures.

Preceding Congress on 25 August 2025, PASAI’s Governing Board held its 43rd meeting and agreed on recommendations for the approval of Congress.

PASAI released a detailed communiqué following the event and looks forward to the next Congress to be hosted by the Nauru Department of Audit.

PASAI acknowledges the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Attribution for the images below goes to Jessica Du, Vice President and Editor of the International Journal of Government Auditing:

Attendees of the 26th PASAI Congress

Cook Islands Director of Audit, Desmond Wildin (right), passing a ceremonial gavel to the President of the Chamber of Accounts of New Caledonia, Florence Bonnafoux (left), at the Governing Board Chairperson handover

President of New Caledonia, Alcide Ponga

Controller and Auditor-General of New Zealand and Secretary-General of PASAI, Grant Taylor

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Contact information:

Esther Lameko-Poutoa, Chief Executive PASAI, Auckland, New Zealand
E: secretariat@pasai.org P: +64 9 304 1275

PDF version of this media release