Pacific Forum leaders

That's the view of the Pacific Network on Globalisation, or PANG, which said the strategy, commissioned by the Forum last year, denies Pacific countries their sovereign right to manage their digital domains, including data.

PANG has now released a new critique of the strategy, written by emeritus law professor at Auckland University, Jane Kelsey.

She said the Pacific needs strategies that are by, and for, the region.

Tonga's Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva made the appeal in an interview with the Samoa Observer while discussing the impact of child obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific.

Mr Pohiva said NCDs had everything to do with eating habits and lifestyle.

Pacific leaders meet and talk about the issue, yet initiatives they advocate do not have an impact, he said.

The effect in Tonga was telling, with life expectancy falling from 71 to 68 years of age, the prime minister said.