British and Pacific Island MPs to visit

Members of the United Kingdom and the Pacific Island Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations will be in New Zealand next week to discuss a wide range of topics - from women in politics to social issues associated with the rebuild of Christchurch.

The British delegation will be led by the Rt. Hon Lord McNally, Chair of the Youth Justice Board.

Other members of the delegation are Andrew Rosindell MP, Dame Angela Watkinson MP, Gavin Shuker MP, Sharon Hodgson MP, and the Rt. Hon John Spellar MP.

Members of the Pacific Island delegation are Wilkie Rasmussen MP (Cook Islands), Tai Tura MP (Cook Islands), Hon. Taneti Maamau MP (Kiribati), Mote Terukaio MP (Kiribati), Lefau Harry Schuster MP (Samoa), Afoafouvale John Moors MP (Samoa), Sione Havea Taione MP (Tonga), Akilisi Pohiva MP (Tonga), the Hon. Otinielu Tauteleimalae Tausi MP (Tuvalu), and the Hon. Leneuoti Maatusi MP (Tuvalu).

On Monday and Tuesday the UK and Pacific delegations will meet in Auckland to compare their respective roles and discuss issues such as women in politics, the impact of climate change, and the roles of the Pacific Island Forum, other regional organisations and NGOs.

They will attend a workshop with the University of Auckland’s Pacific Island Law Students Association and visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum to see the Pacific exhibition and learn more about their WW1 Centenary work.

The Pacific Island delegates will return to their respective countries late Tuesday while the British team travels to Wellington for meetings with MPs and officials on Wednesday and Thursday, before travelling to Christchurch on Friday.

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