The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, Rt Hon Trevor Mallard arrived in Nuku'alofa on October 28 on a parliamentary visit.

Leading a five-member parliamentary delegation to Tonga and onwards to Fiji, Rt. Hon. Mallard said the Pacific region is incredibly important to New Zealand. 

“We will also look to gain insights into the current political and economic landscape in Tonga and Fiji, while making personal connections and building relationships with our parliamentary colleagues,” he stated.

The New Zealand Parliament provides practical and technical support to Pacific parliaments to strengthen their democracies and this delegation would look at where they might focus capacity-building assistance.

The Speaker of Tonga’s Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua thanked New Zealand for their continuous support to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, especially when the Parliament building and its equipment were destroyed by Cyclone Gita in 2018.

Parliament stated that Rt. Hon Mallard met Tongan Members of Parliament (MPs) in a talanoa session and youth leaders. He was also expected to meet women leaders, members of the business sector and communities.

The delegation included Adrian Rurawhe MP (Labour), Hon Tim Macindoe MP (National), Jo Hayes MP (National) and Harete Hipango MP (National).

They expected to visit Fiji from October 30 to November 1.

This is New Zealand's second delegation to the Pacific, after official visits to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands last year.