17 September 2004

Ministers to visit Pacific states

Government ministers will be visiting two Pacific states over the next two weekends.

Environment and Aid Minister Marian Hobbs will attend the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme's fourth ministerial forum in Tahiti tomorrow. A week later she and Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton will fly to Niue to achieve support for a strengthened programme of co-operation between New Zealand and Niue.

"New Zealand is a strong supporter of SPREP," Marian Hobbs said. "Our aid agency, NZAID contributes more than a million dollars a year as well as supporting the programme's director in progressing the movement of change.

"Ministers will be reviewing and endorsing a new five-year action plan for SPREP checking out strategic programmes and examining a resourcing strategy." In Niue Marian Hobbs and Jim Anderton will be finalising details of future co-operation between New Zealand and Niue. Jim Anderton will be investigating economic development issues.

"Niue has been through a devastating hurricane and needs our support as it implements its recovery plan," Marian Hobbs said. "We will be talking about how we can support key positions in Niue by linking them with effective administrative support from New Zealand departments.

"What we agree on will be expressed in a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed in October during Niue's 30th anniversary of self government."

ENDS

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