Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Vanuatu today, announcing that Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further relief and recovery assistance there, following the recent destruction caused by Cyclones Judy and Kevin.
Accompanying the Minister on the trip is the deployment of a Pasifika Medical Association team to provide important health and psychosocial support to those affected.
Minister Mahuta will meet with Vanuatu Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Foreign Minister Jotham Napat, and other senior figures in the Vanuatu Government.
Minister Mahuta says, “Vanuatu is an important regional partner and friend to Aotearoa New Zealand. This visit is an opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the close links that already exist between our countries. I look forward to connecting with Vanuatu leaders to discuss our work together on issues facing Vanuatu and the Pacific.”
The Minister will visit cyclone-affected communities to see response efforts first-hand.She will also discuss their bid to the International Court of Justice to rule on the Climate Crisis .
Minister Mahuta will also call on the President of Vanuatu, meet with the Leader of the Opposition, and visit development projects funded by Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Our priority now is reinforcing Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to working alongside Vanuatu — as well as our wider Pacific whanau — to increase resilience, particularly in the face of climate change and the extreme weather events impacting our region.”
