Source: Radio New Zealand
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is off to the Pacific this week. RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The prime minister has announced he will visit Samoa and Tonga later this week, for what will be the government’s first comprehensive engagements with two new leaders.
Christopher Luxon will bring with him a delegation of business leaders and community members, as well as the police minister, the minister for Pacific peoples, and opposition MPs.
The New Zealand delegation will be led by Savae Sir Michael Jones and Rachel Afeaki.
Luxon said the visit would reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to two of the closest members of the Pacific family, and he was looking forward to meeting with the two new leaders in Samoa and Tonga, and their cabinets.
“With more than 300,000 Samoan and Tongan New Zealanders, the family connection is woven into the fabric of our society,” Luxon said.
“Through our longstanding ties, we have built enormous trust between our nations. I’m looking forward to hearing my new colleagues’ points of view, and then agreeing how we can work together to build communities that are more prosperous and safer from threats like drugs.”
Samoa held an election last August, with La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt emerging victorious.
Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt. RNZ / Mark Papalii
La’auli assumed control of the FAST party after former prime minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was expelled. Fiamē continued to lead a minority government before calling the snap election.
Luxon and La’auli met previously, for a courtesy call, in November.
Lord Fatafehi Fakafānua has been prime minister of Tonga since December. He previously served as Tonga’s Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The confirmation of the visit comes shortly after an announcement the government would temporarily reduce the fees Pacific travellers pay for visitor visas, from $216 to $161.
The delegation will leave Auckland on Sunday, and return on Wednesday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
