Pacific Water Leaders Open PWWC26 in French Polynesia with Call for Stronger Water Security
PWWC26 officially opens in Papeete, bringing together 284 participants and 30 exhibitors to advance Pacific water security from source to reef.
9/1/20263 min read
PAPEETE, French Polynesia – 31 August 2026: The 17th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference and Expo and the 10th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum officially opened today at the Presidency of French Polynesia, bringing together 264 participants and 30 exhibitors from across the Pacific.
Hosted in French Polynesia for the first time, PWWC26 is being held under the theme “Vai Ora – Living Water: From Source to Reef, Water Shapes Life in the Pacific,” reflecting the close connection between freshwater systems, communities, livelihoods and the ocean environments that sustain Pacific island life.
Delivering the opening address on behalf of the President of French Polynesia, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and the Environment Hon. Taivini Teai said the region must broaden the way it thinks about water security.
“We can no longer think of water security solely as the capacity to supply running water. We must think of it as the capacity to preserve the entire water cycle, from the source to the reef.
“The objective is not merely access to running water. The objective is lasting access to healthy water, produced by environments that are themselves in good health.”
The President’s address highlighted the need for an integrated approach to water management that recognises drinking water, sanitation, stormwater, watersheds, aquifers, coastal areas and reefs as parts of the same living system. It also stressed that protecting water resources is essential not only for the environment, but for public health, economic resilience, fisheries, tourism and the long-term sustainability of island communities.
The address also called for stronger protection of water resources as climate change intensifies pressures on Pacific islands through longer droughts, heavier rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise and increasing threats to freshwater lenses and critical infrastructure.
Pacific Water and Wastewater Association Chairperson Frank Kyota welcomed delegates to Papeete and said the conference theme reflects the wider role water plays across Pacific societies.
“This theme reminds us that water is more than a service we provide. It is the thread that connects our environment, our economies, our cultures and our communities. Every decision we make upstream influences what happens downstream.
“These challenges are not simply technical. They affect public health, education, food security, economic development and the wellbeing of every Pacific family. They remind us that investing in water security is investing in the future of our region.”
Mr Kyota said Pacific utilities continue to face significant pressures, including ageing infrastructure, high levels of non-revenue water, increasing operational costs, rapid urbanisation and the growing effects of climate variability and climate change.
He said the conference provides an opportunity for Pacific countries, utilities, development partners and industry to exchange technical knowledge, explore new technologies, strengthen partnerships and identify practical solutions suited to the realities of island communities.
Mr Kyota also highlighted the growing regional momentum around water security, noting that water had been elevated into discussions at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and that discussions in Papeete would contribute to the Pacific’s preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
“The conversations that begin here in Papeete will help shape the priorities and messages that our region will take onto the global stage, ensuring that Pacific voices, Pacific experiences and Pacific solutions are heard,” he said.
The formal opening ceremony concluded with the traditional exchange of cultural gifts, with Pacific member countries and territories presenting the host country with gifts representing their respective cultures.
The conference programme then moved into its first technical session, hosted by French Polynesia and titled “Te Vai – The Water of French Polynesia: Connecting Land and Water.” The session reflected one of the central themes of the opening addresses - the connection between what happens on land and the health of rivers, aquifers, lagoons and reefs.
PWWC26 continues in Papeete this week with technical sessions, workshops, exhibitions and regional discussions focused on strengthening water and wastewater services, building resilient utilities and advancing Pacific water security.
The 10th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum will also bring together Ministers and senior government representatives to advance regional policy priorities and strengthen the Pacific’s collective voice on water security.
