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New Zealand has been accused of favouring its neighbours in the south, over its neighbours in the north as five Micronesian countries signalled they will be exiting the Pacific Islands Forum.
It means the Pacific's most influential regional body is in disarray with Micronesian countries comprising nearly a third of the forum.
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 was not honoured triggering the decision to resign en masse.
RNZ's Pacific's Koroi Hawkins reports.