Kiribati has withdrawn from the Pacific Islands Forum meeting, which starts in Fiji today.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will attend the meeting of 18 countries including Australia and New Zealand.
In a letter sent to the forum's secretary general on Saturday, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau's outlined his reasons for not attending, including a "gentleman's agreement" that Micronesia would be awarded the organisation's secretary general role.
Cook Islander Henry Puna was appointed to that role, and the Micronesian states said they felt sidelined.
Massey University senior lecturer in security studies Dr Anna Powles has been watching developments closely. She spoke to Corin Dann.
