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