Elections in Kiribati have been delayed by a week.
The president of Kiribati, Tantei Maamau, at the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tuvalu. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
This comes as emergency measures in response to the covid-19 pandemic have disrupted public services, despite no confirmed cases of the virus in the country.
Voters will go to the first of two rounds of polling on Tuesday, with second round votes the week after that.
There have been no public announcements on whether distancing and hygiene restrictions may be enforced when polling in the Kiribati national elections starts Tuesday.
Amongst the line-up of 111 men and 7 women running for 44 available seats, the country's first President Ieremia Tabai aims to make a comeback.
Vincent Tong, the son of former President Anote Tong, is also standing, while caretaker leader Taneti Maamau is vying for another term.
High profile climate diplomat Tessie Lambourne is making her political debut, boosting hopes from gender activists for more women at the parliamentary table.