New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta will arrive in Tonga, tomorrow 18 August, on her first official visit.

Her tour, which included Niue earlier in the week, builds on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific Resilience approach announced last year, and climate action priorities for building resilience, supporting collective action, and growing the capacity of partner countries.

King Tupou VI will receive the minister in an audience.

Hon. Mahuta will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu.

In a statement she said, “after the disruption caused by COVID-19 border closures, this is another opportunity to connect in-person with our Pacific whanau, reaffirm Aotearoa New Zealand’s enduring links with the region, and commit to future co-operation.

“This is a challenging time for the Pacific. Leaders at last month’s Pacific Islands Forum reaffirmed climate change as the single greatest security threat with the adoption of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”

“We stand alongside the Pacific to mitigate and adapt to the impact of sea-level rise. Half of our $1.3 billion climate finance commitments announced late last year are for the Pacific. I will provide an update on our climate finance strategy at a speech in Nuku’alofa on Friday.”

While in Tonga the New Zealand delegation will visit projects and agencies where Aotearoa New Zealand is working in partnership with Tongan community leaders, including civil society organisations and frontline health workers.

The Pacific Resilience approach takes a Pacific-centred view of NZ's shared interests in the region.

“Aotearoa New Zealand is in and of the Pacific. Our bonds with Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and its people run deep, through whakapapa, language, shared histories, cultures and interests,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

 She departs Tonga on 19 August.