November 13, 2017
Pacific link acknowledged in climate talks
While the new Government is still formulating how it will deliver on is pledge to lower immigration, there’s one type of migrant Pacific Minister Aupito William Sio wants the doors left open for.
Mr Sio and Climate Change Minister James Shaw are in Bonn representing New Zealand at this week’s COP23 United Nations Climate change conference.
He says New Zealand is a Pacific nation, and some of the other countries in the region are the first to show the catastrophic effects of climate change.
"I took a tour in 2016 up to Vanuatu and Kiribati and got to see first hand the battles they were fighting and we really need to start laying the foundation of a Pacific immigration plan that takes into consideration that some of the islands will be under water, the people will be displaced, that is already happening," Minister Sio says.
He says as Minister for Pacific Affairs means he also has to represent the interests of Maori in the international stage.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com