Prime Minister's visit to the Pacific

Prime Minister John Key has completed a relationship-building Pacific tour, which included visits to Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands.

Mr Key led a delegation including Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina te Heuheu, and members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.

Also in the delegation were Manukau Mayor Len Brown, Porirua Mayor Jenny Brash, Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, and Pacific Island youth and sport representatives including Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala.

During the visit Mr Key met with King of Tonga, His Majesty George Tupou V, Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele, the Samoan Head of State His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa, Niue’s Premier Toke Talagi, Cook Islands Queens Representative His Excellency Sir Frederick Goodwin and Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai.

The visit included a meeting with Tokelau’s leaders, who had come to Samoa to meet Mr Key.

For more information see the following items on the Beehive website:

• PM to visit Pacific - media release - Hon John Key, 30 June 2009
• New Zealand boosts assistance to Tonga - media release - Hon John Key, 7 July 2009
• New Zealand increases aid to Samoa - media release - Hon John Key, 8 July 2009
• Cook Islands agree to tax information exchange - media release - Hon John Key, 10 July 2009

New Zealand Prime Minister Hon John Key and Tonga's Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele at a joint media conference following their bi-lateral meeting in Nuku'alofa