New Zealand will support good governance and quality audit activities in the North Pacific, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.
“Promoting good governance and strong institutions is an important part of our development programme in the Pacific. We are pleased to be providing $16.4 million in support to the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions for its work, including in the North Pacific,” Mr Peters says during a visit to Koror, Palau.
“This project demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to meaningful collaboration and cooperation in every part of the Pacific Islands region.
“This project is part of a broader regional governance programme that includes support to the North Pacific to strengthen public service performance, increase access to justice, reduce corruption, and improve the delivery of elections.”
Mr Peters has led a cross-party delegation to Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
“These face-to-face connections express our deep commitment to all our Pacific partners and are the only way we can truly understand the issues that matter to them,” Mr Peters says.
Mr Peters has been accompanied in Palau by Chair of the Labour Pacific Caucus, Hon Jenny Salesa; Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (FADTC) Tim van de Molen; and FADTC member Teanau Tuiono.
Palau is the final destination of the delegation’s four-country Pacific tour.
Mr Peters hopes to visit French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Kiribati by the end of the year.
