On the final leg of the five day Pacific Mission, the New Zealand delegation led by Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Pacific Peoples and Health, Dr.Shane Reti touched down in Samoa to continue bi-lateral talks and reaffirm the relationship between the two countries.
This morning Mr Peters and Dr. Reti met with head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II. This was followed by a meeting with Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. Both leaders released a Statement of Partnership – He waka eke noa – We are all in the Waka together, ‘O le fogava’a e tasi – We are all the same family.
The Statement sets out the principles and priorities under which New Zealand and Samoa will cooperate, coordinate, and partner in accepted priority areas over the 5-year period 2024-2028. The key areas are:
Partnership
Security
Empowering Communities
Governance
Building Climate Resilience Inspiring Growth
Mr Peters says, “As well as outlining our intent to work together on issues of mutual interest such as climate change, human and economic development, and responding to an increasingly complex security environment, the Statement also reiterates New Zealand’s commitment to support Samoa to deliver a successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this year.”
Dr. Reti says, “New Zealand and Samoa share a warm and long-standing relationship, based on close historical, cultural, and people-to-people links.”
