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Former Labour MP Shane Jones has been formally appointed as New Zealand’s new Ambassador for Pacific Economic Development.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully says he will also serve as High Commissioner to several small island developing states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
He says the appointment signals a clear intention to improve economic outcomes in the Pacific, where New Zealand already contributes over $300 million in development funding.
Mr Jones will focus on supporting income generating opportunities for Pacific countries in sectors like tourism, agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries.
He also has a brief to work with island leaders on issues like the Pacific tuna fishery, which last year yielded more than US$4 billion of fish to international markets but brought in less than 10 per cent of that amount to Pacific countries.
His first assignment is accompanying Prime Minister John Key, former parliamentary colleagues and officials from government and non-government organisations on the annual Pacific mission, which will leave for Samoa, Tonga and Niue on Sunday.
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