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Download AudioForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta says meeting Pacific Island leaders has been a strong focus of her work since Covid travel restrictions were lifted.
Earlier this year Ms Mahuta was slammed by National for not travelling to the Pacific as China was attempting to expand its influence in the region.
She says in recent months she has met leaders from the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, and Samoa.
“I’ve always believed it is important for New Zealand to continue what is a warm relationship across the Pacific. We’re in and of the Pacific so our natural neighbourhood is the Pacific island nations,” Ms Mahuta says.
This week she met with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele and covered off issues such as the RSE scheme and labour mobility, experience gained from tackling Covid 19, climate change, economic development, border security, and superpower interest in the region.
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