New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Minister, Carmel Sepuloni will visit Fiji as part of a Pacific Mission this week.
She said the Pacific region remains New Zealand government’s foreign policy priority.
“The Pacific Mission provides us with an invaluable opportunity to strengthen our relationships even further, and reaffirm our commitment to working alongside our Pacific whanau (family) to respond to challenges together,” Ms Sepuloni said.
“New Zealand is in and of the Pacific. What happens within the Pacific region impacts New Zealanders here at home.
“We proudly take a Pacific-led approach to solving the issues facing the region, not least to mention, climate change.
“Our shared Blue Pacific Continent also faces a range of challenges including institutional and economic fragility, social and demographic issues, and increasing geo-strategic competition.
“The Pacific Mission underlines our place in the region, in partnership with and alongside our Pacific whanau,” Ms Sepuloni said.
She will also visit the Solomon Islands and Tonga.