The Pacific Islands Forum has just marked its 40th anniversary.
The body had its first meeting in Wellington from the 5th to the 7th of August in 1971.
The secretary general Tuiloma Neroni Slade says that the 40 years span a history of shared efforts by the region's leaders, past and present, to improve the lives of Pacific citizens.
He says there've been notable successes as a result of Forum initiatives but the catalogue of what needs to be done around the region remains long and the nature of the tasks is difficult.
Mr Slade says the milestone anniversary presents an important opportunity to not only celebrate achievements but to seek guidance from the members' leaders on the way forward.
The Forum's 42nd leaders' summit is being held next month in Auckland.
