Samoa has become the first member nation of the Pacific Islands Forum to nominate a candidate as the next secretary general of the regional group.

As Pacific correspondent Campbell Cooney reports, last week the Pacific Islands Forum confirmed the resignation of the secretary general, Greg Urwin, for health reasons, halfway through his second three-year term.

And according to the online news site Talamua Online, the Samoan government wants prominent lawyer and judge, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, to be the next head of the forum.

Mr Urwin was the first Australian to hold the job.

Prior to his appointment in 2003, the position was held by former Papua New Guinea politician Noel Levi, and it is expected the next secretary general will come from Polynesia.

The successful candidate is expected to be decided at the forum leaders meeting at Niue in August, with all 16 member nations allowed to nominate someone in the months ahead of it.

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