Prime Minister makes first official visit to New Zealand

The Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Tu’ivakano will depart tomorrow for his inaugural tour of New Zealand and Australia since his election to office.

The Prime Minister, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Information and Communications, will meet with New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honourable John Key in Wellington on Wednesday. He will also hold bilateral talks with New Zealand Foreign Minister Honourable Murray McCully, before meeting with Defence Minister Honourable Dr Wayne Mapp, as well as Opposition Leader Honourable Phil Goff later in the day.

Returning to Auckland on Thursday, the Prime Minister will attend a session of the Pacific Leader’s Forum Lecture Series hosted by Prime Minister John Key at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.

He will depart for Sydney, Australia on Friday 12 August.

For the Australian leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will hold separate talks with President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick, President of the Asian Development Bank, Haruhiko Kuroda as well as Director General of IRENA Dr Adnan Amin, to discuss various issues, including support and strategies for sustainable economic development.

The Prime Minister will also call on Australian Prime Minister Honourable Julia Gillard on Thursday 18 August in Canberra, as well as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs Honourable Richard Marles, Acting Foreign Minister Dr Craig Emerson and the Tonga High Commission based in Australia.
The Prime Minister returns to Tonga on 22 August.

ENDS.