New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, along with the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti are on an important mission to the Pacific this week. They will both visit Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Samoa to strengthen ties with the Pasifika region.
Minister Reti, who is also responsible for health, is making his first trip to the region in his Pacific minister role. He aims to reinforce cultural connections with the Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tonga, addressing shared challenges, especially in the context of health. Minister Reti plans to visit a hospital and engage with health officials from the three countries, focusing on collaborative efforts to address long-term health priorities, including the impacts of Covid-19 in the region.
Deputy Prime Minister Peters, well-versed in Pacific affairs, emphasizes the opportunity for New Zealand to enhance cooperation with these countries, supporting their development goals. The visit aims to strengthen existing relationships, particularly in Polynesia, where New Zealand has strong political, economic, and people-to-people ties.
The delegation will meet with key leaders in each country, including Tonga’s acting PM Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown, and Samoan PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. The schedule includes visits to sites supported by New Zealand aid, along with meetings with cultural, community, and political leaders, such as Samoa’s Head of State Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II. Overall, the mission underscores New Zealand’s commitment to collaborative responses to the strategic challenges faced by the Pacific and the wider Indo-Pacific region.