May 31, 2024
NZ steps up to regional upsets
![Watermark](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-4.png)
![](https://waateanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/mntBLOCKSTORAGEhomemasternews_importersrcWInston-Peters-getty-images-2024-1.jpg_1_Pub-1.jpg)
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peter says the country’s response to events in New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea makes him proud to be a New Zealander.
He says the Defence Force moved quickly to evacuate the 300 New Zealanders caught up in riots in New Caledonia, although the effort took some days because the closure of the main airport meant smaller planes had to be used.
Foreign Affairs officials also worked the phones to identify what help could be given to help Papua New Guinea deal with a devastating landslide.
“We’re a country that’s got a great conscience. We’ve just got to put more effort into it. But it’s moments like these when we see the messages coming in; it makes you proud to be a part of the New Zealand people and the New Zealand Government and our Pacific focus on the blue continent,” Mr Peters says.