Malakai Koloamatangi

Tahiti Forum bid could trigger domino effect

The French territory, which currently has observer status at the Forum, is looking at increasing its involvement in the leading regional body.

A Forum mission has recently been in Tahiti to assess its membership bid.

The director of Massey University's Pasifika Centre, Malakai Koloamatangi, says while France is reluctant to entertain the idea of its territories becoming independent, it wants to engage more with the region and having Forum membership could help effect this.