NZ deputy PM to visit PNG

A DELEGATION led by New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters is expected to arrive in the country on Sunday.
Peters, also the foreign affairs minister, said this would be part of a five-stop Pacific tour of PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu, next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.
“New Zealand has deep and long-standing relationships across the region, and this trip will provide the opportunity to reaffirm these connections and demonstrate our bipartisan commitment to our key Pacific partners,” Peters said in a statement.
“We will be sharing and discussing views on priority issues in each country, including the impacts of climate change, development priorities, and challenges to broader stability.”
Peters will be accompanied by New Zealand’s Health Minister and Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti, Climate Change minister Simon Watts, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Parliamentary committee chairman Tim van de Molen, and opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs, David Parker.
The delegation will meet with government, political and cultural leaders, visit New Zealand-supported development initiatives, and participate in community activities during their travel in the Pacific.
In Port Moresby, the delegation will engage in a bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso on Monday.
They will then visit Port Moresby General Hospital for a presentation on the Fred Hollows Eye Centre, followed by a visit to the Kumul Leadership Centre at Murray Barracks.
The delegation will depart on Tuesday.