The Pacific Islands Forum will be held in Auckland next year.

Though there has been no formal announcement yet, the Herald understands next year's forum, the 42nd, will take place in Auckland in September.

The offer is for New Zealand to host the forum in the three or four days leading up to the first Rugby World Cup match between the All Blacks and Tonga on September 9 at Eden Park.

All foreign leaders present will be invited to attend the game.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Vanuatu are believed to have accepted New Zealand's bid during discussions at a secluded resort today.

The leaders are expected to officially announce next year's forum venue on their return to capital Port Vila this evening.

Sixteen countries make up the forum: New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji (suspended).

- with NZPA

By Derek Cheng |