GEOGRAPHY

PINAS OBJECTIVES

PINA's principal objectives, as mandated by its members and outlined in the constitution, are:
• promoting and defending freedom of information and freedom of expression;
• promoting and developing professional skills and standards through
training, education, and development of resource material;
• promoting and developing professional fellowship and cooperation.

PINA's members are from island nations big and small in both the English-speaking and French-speaking Pacific. They range from Papua New Guinea to some of the smallest and least developed members of the international community.

These nations are scattered across the Pacific Ocean, covering nearly one-third of the planet's surface. They cover seven million people living on hundreds of islands and atolls. They include 14 independent nations and seven territories.

The independent nations are: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa.

The territories are: American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam (USA), New Caledonia (France), Norfolk Island (Australia), Northern Marianas (USA), Wallis and Futuna (France).

American Samoa
	Number of Islands: Seven (six of which are inhabited) Land Area: 197 Sq Km Capital: Pagopago
Cook Islands
	Capital: Rarotonga Land Area: 240 sq km – Number of Islands: 15 islands EEZ: 1.8 million sq km Population: 19,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: Cook Islands Maori, English Currency: New Zealand Dollar, Cook Islands coins Economy & Agriculture: black pearls, offshore banking and tourism.
Federated States of Micronesia
	Capital: Pohnpei Land Area: 700 sq km – Number of Islands: 607 islands EEZ: 1.8 million sq km Population: 119,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Micronesian languages Currency: United States Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture & fisheries
Fiji
	Capital: Suva Land Area: 18,272 sq km Number of Islands: 332 islands EEZ: 1.26 million sq km Population: 795,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Fijian, Hindi Currency: Fiji Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, clothing, fisheries, forestry, sugar & tourism.
Guam
	Number of Islands: One Land Area: 459 Sq Km Guam Visitors Bureau: www.visitguam.org
Kiribati
	Capital: Tarawa Land Area: 726 sq km – Number of Islands: 33 islands EEZ: 3.6 million sq km Population: 85,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Kiribati Currency: Australian Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Copra, fisheries & seaweed
Marshall Islands
	Capital: Majuro Land Area: 181 sq km Number of Islands: 3.1 islands EEZ: 1.26 million sq km Population: 4.6 million (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Marshallese Currency: United States Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture & US military spending
Nauru
	Capital: Yaren Land Area: 21 sq km – Number of Islands: 1 islands EEZ: 320,000 sq km Population: 12,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Nauruan Currency: Australian Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Phosphate
New Caledonia
	Land Area: 18,575 Sq Km Population: 200,000 Capital: Noumea Language: French (official language) English (widely spoken) New Caledonia Visitors Bureau: www.new-caledonia-tourism.nc
Niue
	Capital: Alofi Land Area: 259 sq km – Number of Islands: 1 islands EEZ: 390,000 sq km Population: 2,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Niuean Currency: New Zealand Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, banking telecommunications and tourism. Niue Visitors Bureau: www.niueisland.com
Norfolk Island
	Number of Islands: 1 Land Area: 35 Sq Km Population: Around 1800 Language: English
Northern Mariana's
	Land Area: 477 Sq Km Population: 74, 612 Language: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
Papua New Guinea
	Capital: Port Moresby Land Area: 462,000 sq km Number of Islands: 332 islands EEZ: 3.1 million sq km Population: 4.6 million (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Local languages Currency: Kina Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, fisheries, forestry & mining
Palau
	Capital: Koror Land Area: 487 sq km – Number of Islands: 200 islands EEZ: 600,900 sq km Population: 19,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Palauan Currency: United States Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Fisheries & tourism
Samoa
	Capital: Apia Land Area: 2,934 sq km Number of Islands: 5 islands EEZ: 120,000 sq km Population: 181,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Samoan Currency: Tala Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing & tourism Samoa Visitors Bureau: www.samoa.co.nz
Solomon Islands
	Capital: Honiara Land Area: 28,000 sq km Number of Islands: 105 islands EEZ: 1.6 million sq km Population: 446,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Fijian, local language Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, fisheries, & forestry
Tahiti
	Number of Islands: Five far flung archipelagoes Land Area: 4 million Sq Km Population: 219,521 Language: French/Tahitian Tahiti Visitors Bureau: www.tahiti-tourisme.com
Tokelau
	Number of Islands: Three atolls (Nukunono, the central atoll, Atafu and Fakaofo) Land Area: 12 Sq Km Population: 1900
Tonga
	Capital: Nuku’alofa Land Area: 688 sq km Number of Islands: 170 islands EEZ: 700,000 sq km Population: 100,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Tongan Currency: Pa’anga Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture.
Tuvalu
	Capital: Funafuti Land Area: 26 sq km Number of Islands: Seven atolls and 2 islands Population: 12,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: English, Tuvaluan Currency: Australian Dollar Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture.
Vanuwatu
	Capital: Port Vila Land Area: 12,190 sq km Number of Islands: 80 islands EEZ: 680,000 sq km Population: 194,000 (approx for 2000) Languages: Bislama, English, French, local languages Currency: Vatu Economy & Agriculture: Agriculture, fisheries & tourism Vanuatu Visitors Bureau: www.vanuatutourism.com
Wallis & Futuna
	Number of Islands: Three major islands and 20 smaller ones Land Area: 274 Sq Km