New Zealand and Vanuatu sign new air services agreement
New Zealand and Vanuatu have signed an air services agreement for four weekly flights by the two countries’ airlines
between Port Vila and Auckland.
The singing came as New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, launched a new development strategy for Vanuatu
which will see aid treble to 54 million US dollars over five years.
Don Wiseman reports from Port Vila.
“Around forty percent of the money is to go towards education and mostly basic education as Vanuatu strives to reach
the Millennium Challenge goal of free basic education for every child by 2015. It’s hoped the air services agreement
will lead to a surge in New Zealand tourist numbers to Vanuatu , as currently just seven thousand come here. New
Zealand’s also to allow Vanuatu paw paw to be imported, while Mr Peters says he’s hopeful an agreement can soon be
reached on labour mobility. He says the government group looking at the matter is talking with Pacific government down
to village level to try and reach an agreement that the village takes some responsibility if the short-term workers
overstay their visas.’’”