(Picture caption: Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti greets people upon arrival in Vanuatu as part of the Government's Pacific Mission. Photo Credit: PMN News.)
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters, flanked by Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Dr Shane Reti, recently led a bipartisan delegation to the Pacific, to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.
The delegation visited Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Tuvalu during the five-day tour.
It was also supposed to visit New Caledonia, however, it cancelled this leg due to unrest and riots in Noumea.
While in the Solomon Islands, the delegation took the opportunity to discuss the new Solomon Islands Government’s priorities for its first 100 days in office, and New Zealand’s development partnership with Solomon Islands spanning priority areas including critical infrastructure, education, governance and economic reform.
In Papua New Guinea, New Zealand met with officials to discuss eye health, and its intention to donate $18.9 million into an eye care clinic in Port Moresby.
The investment will enable eye care services and a new training facility for eye specialists in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand.
In Vanuatu, the delegation visited a New Zealand aid project where $10 million will go towards a wharf connecting shipping services to remote islands.
New Zealand is also putting in $8 million to help Vanuatu respond more effectively to the increasing effects of climate change.
The last leg of the trip was Tuvalu, where the impact of climate change is a reality here, as water rises at a distressing rate.
Over $6 million will go to the next phase of the Tuvalu coastal adaptation project to strengthen coastal defence.
New Zealand is also committed to supporting Tuvalu’s digital connectivity, water security and improving their local ferry and fishing vessels.
In this video, Minister Reti reflects on his visit to Melanesia and the impact he hopes New Zealand can have in the region.