Five Micronesian countries have signalled they'll be exiting the Pacific Islands Forum - throwing the Pacific's most influential regional body into chaos.
It follows the appointment of a Cook Islander as the new Secretary General - the leaders of Nauru, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau and The Federated States of Micronesia say a gentleman's agreement to rotate the Forum's top position among Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia hasn't been honoured ... triggering the decision to exit en masse.
Micronsesian countries make up almost a third of the forum.
Their departure reduces the Forum to 12 members, all of them in the South Pacific. Worldwatch reporter Perlina Lau spoke with Koroi Hawkins from RNZ Pacific.
