PNG to assist New Zealand’s clean-up after Cyclone Gabrielle

PAPUA New Guinea will be helping New Zealand’s clean-up exercise of the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, says Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
He conveyed the message to NZ’s deputy prime minister and associate foreign affairs minister Carmel Sepuloni during the Pacific Island Forum retreat in Nadi, Fiji, last week.
“We will send our (soldiers) to support New Zealand with the clean-up exercises if required,” Tkatchenko said.
He also told Sepuloni about PNG’s strong interest to increase its numbers in the NZ labour mobility programme. “We note Samoa’s concern of its skilled labour shortages which resulted in it suspending its participation in the programme at the moment,” he said.
He said PNG had semi-skilled people who could be used for the programme.
He said after talks with the Recognised Seasonal Employee stakeholders in Auckland last week, PNG would provide1,000 workers to help New Zealand with its labour needs.
Tkatchenko also told Sepuloni of the security arrangements that Papua New Guinea had with Australia, United States, Solomon Islands, France and Indonesia.
Sepuloni said New Zealand supported Pacific Island countries in their times of need.
“New Zealand has taken up the offer of support by Fiji and are currently assessing where further support is needed, to respond to PNG’s offer,” she said.