We are committed to partnering with Pacific countries to deliver improved outcomes for our region. We have a strong and enduring interest in investing in the resilience of our Pacific partners, to address short and long-term challenges.
The Ministry delivered an intensive programme of high-level visits to deepen New Zealand’s Pacific relationships. These visits enabled high-level dialogue with key Pacific partners, at a time when the region is facing increased strategic competition. They provided opportunities to discuss cooperation to support Pacific resilience and for us to underline New Zealand’s support for Pacific regionalism.
High level visits included the first stand-alone Ministerial visits in 17 years to the North Pacific (Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Palau). Reflecting this lift in engagement, Ambassadors from RMI and FSM have been accredited to New Zealand for the first time.
Addressing regional connectivity needs remains a priority, in support of development and PIF unity. New Zealand provided transport to and from the PIF Leaders’ Meeting in Tonga for many Pacific delegations. The Government also announced changes to immigration settings to make it more straightforward for Pacific nationals to visit New Zealand. This included extending the duration of visitor visas, and recognising certain Australian visas held by Pacific nationals travelling from Australia.
The Ministry shared information and coordinated on regional priorities with Australia. We ensured the complementarity of regional labour mobility and migration policy settings and coordinated support for Pacific partners — including significant support for Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM in October 2024, and for the Solomon Islands’ hosting of PIF Leaders Meeting in September 2025.
In our engagement with global partners, we advocated for approaches that reflect Pacific priorities, and that are consistent with established regional practices and institutions. We held talks on the Pacific with the European Union, United Kingdom, France, Germany, United States, China, Japan and Australia, and sought opportunities to collaborate and coordinate with other donors to support Pacific priorities.
Other areas of focus included an intensive cross-agency response to the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, primarily focused on reducing the environmental impacts of the sinking.
New Zealand hosted delegates from the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government at Burnham Military Camp. Convened by Independent Moderator Sir Jerry Mateparae, the Joint Consultations focused on building agreement on a political pathway to implement the outcome of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum.
In 2024–25 the Ministry supported sustainable development in the Pacific through delivery of NZD$573 million through the International Development Cooperation (IDC) Programme. This support focused on governance and demographic institutions; security; climate adaptation; and economic and social resilience (see Annex 2 p.131). To date, the Ministry has disbursed NZD$75 million of ‘Climate Flexible Finance’. This assistance has been disbursed directly to Pacific governments, enabling our partners to lead their own responses to climate change. This ‘partner-led’ approach is transforming how New Zealand delivers development support.
Partnering with Japan and the Asia Development Bank (ADB) on the New Betio Hospital in Kiribati, New Zealand completed construction of a maternity ward, children’s ward, and hospital management facilities that will service the local population of around 20,000. Japan is contributing fittings and equipment to these wards, with the ADB funding the second phase of construction. In Budget 2025, the Government committed an additional NZD$100 million per year to provide assistance to developing countries, particularly in the Pacific, building on investments made across a range of sectors under the 2022–25 climate finance commitment. Planning for effective delivery of this significant programme of work will be a focus of the year ahead.
Case study: Humanitarian response to the Vanuatu earthquake
Providing humanitarian assistance to Pacific countries following disasters has been a long-standing priority for the New Zealand Government. This commitment reflects our geographic proximity, strong cultural and people links, and recognition that Pacific Island countries are among the most vulnerable in the world to disasters resulting from natural hazards.
The Pacific is where New Zealand is able to deploy the widest range of our humanitarian capabilities, and where we can make the biggest difference. The Ministry is the lead government agency for coordinating New Zealand’s response to international humanitarian events.
Vanuatu is one of the most disaster-prone countries the world. On 17 December 2024, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake caused significant destruction, claiming 14 lives, injuring over 265 and displacing thousands. Vulnerable communities in Port Vila, Efate, and nearby areas were left in urgent need of support after the earthquake disrupted telecommunications, power and access to essential services; cut off water supplies; and severely damaged infrastructure.
A rapid response
New Zealand activated a range of humanitarian response capabilities to respond to the disaster. Following a request for assistance from the Government of Vanuatu, and within 24 hours of the earthquake, aerial surveillance was undertaken by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) which provided images to the Government of Vanuatu to assist their response planning. A further 24 hours later, the first of three NZDF C-130 Hercules aircraft transported critical humanitarian supplies to Vanuatu, including mother and infant kits, shelter tool-kits, tarpaulins, and family hygiene kits.
173 people were evacuated from Vanuatu by the New Zealand Government. As well as New Zealanders, this included 60 foreign nationals from 19 countries. The Ministry’s Consular team, operating from the Ministry’s Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC), was instrumental in providing travel advice and consular assistance to affected New Zealanders. Close collaboration across teams and government agencies ensured New Zealanders were able to return home safely.
In response to extensive damage to roads, bridges, and public buildings, a team of experts from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) deployed to Vanuatu to provide specialist advice and logistical support. New Zealand geotechnical experts from GNS Science also provided remote support to identify landslide hazards from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, and to assess the impacts on communities and infrastructure. A team of engineers from BECA was deployed by the Ministry to assess the structural safety of New Zealand funded infrastructure. Support from all of these experts helped inform Vanuatu Government decisions around safe management of affected areas.
The earthquake also caused significant damage to New Zealand’s High Commission and staff homes. The Ministry’s Asset Management team was integrated into the ECC, working with offshore staff to ensure their safety. This included deploying a team of three electricians and a builder to verify electrical safety, and to ensure facilities used during the response were safe and functional.
Effective cross-agency and international collaboration
Occurring through the New Zealand summer break, the Ministry’s leadership of the Government response ensured that NZ Inc agencies collaborated effectively in responding to crises.
In addition, close coordination with the Government of Vanuatu and other humanitarian response partners, including Australia and France, ensured New Zealand provided effective lifesaving humanitarian assistance and support to those most in need. A total of 56 first responders were deployed from across New Zealand government agencies in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. In addition to the deployments from FENZ and NZDF, two personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) assisted the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office with their response plan; and a three-person New Zealand Medical Assistance Team (NZMAT) from the Ministry of Health deployed to help assess the impact of the disaster on Port Villa’s local health system. The NZMAT team identified a need for psychosocial support and, as a result, the Ministry of Health deployed a specialist team to Port Vila to work alongside Vanuatu Health officials.
The Ministry’s partnerships with non-government organisations (NGOs) were also an important enabler in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Through the New Zealand Disaster Response Partnership, funding was granted to Child Fund and World Vision for the provision of critical shelter, water, and mental health assistance. Pre-positioned humanitarian relief supplies from New Zealand's NGO partner, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), were released to mobilise urgently needed water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to affected communities. The Ministry supported the deployment of New Zealand Red Cross personnel to aid the Vanuatu Red Cross in delivering emergency telecommunications and health services.