The executive director of the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs is in New York to help bring the region's issues to the United Nations' attention.
Countries are currently reporting to the global body on progress made in implementing their Sustainable Development Goals.
This year's focus is SDG6 - ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The executive director Emele Duituturaga told Dominic Godfrey the current global economic growth model cannot be sustained with scarce and finite resources like water.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson