By Katalina Siasau

New Zealand and Tonga are exploring opportunities to strengthen their bilateral relationship and enhance diplomatic and development cooperation. New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, along with a cross-party delegation, met today, 11 April, in Nuku'alofa with Tonga's PM, Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke, and the Tongan Cabinet to discuss these opportunities. Peters earlier met the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence HRH Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala.

During a joint media briefing Rt. Hon. Peters said, “We are seriously, Prime Minister, about getting this relationship going, bringing others around the world into it, in this theatre that we too share."

PM Dr. Eke expressed the Tongan government's gratitude to New Zealand for its continued assistance with shared priorities in government institutions, health, and climate change.

Extended visas for Forum countries

Rt. Hon. Peters announced that the New Zealand government is making it simpler for Pacific people to visit New Zealand.

From July this year, the standard visitor visa validity period will be extended to 24 months for nationals from Pacific Islands Forum countries, who require a visa.

These visas will be multi-entry, meaning that Pacific nationals can visit New Zealand as many times as they want over 24 months, for a total stay of nine months in any 18-month period.

This is a change from New Zealand’s standard settings, which usually grants a 12-month visa that allows for a total stay of six months in a 12-month period.

There are also changes in the pipeline for nationals from Pacific Island Forum countries traveling from Australia to New Zealand. Rt. Hon. Peters said that starting later this year, those who hold a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa, will be able to travel to New Zealand for up to three months without needing a New Zealand visa. Pacific nationals traveling from Australia will only have to apply for the NZETA before entering New Zealand, as is the case for travelers of visa waiver countries.

RT. Hon. Peters stated that these immigration changes are a tangible step to increase the connection between New Zealand and Pacific Island Forum countries.

"Our purpose is to ensure that inside the New Zealand Parliament there's a far better understanding going through the ages about our shared needs, our shared concerns, our shared dreams and our shared aspirations and, dare I say, the God, we share.”

Trade conflict

This morning, Rt. Hon. Peters met with Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala. The Prime MInister Hon. Dr. Eke said the meeting was to explore opportunities to further strengthen the bilateral relationships, and enhance diplomatic and development cooperation between the two countries.

Rt. Hon. Peters took questions from the local and foreign media after his meetings in Nuku'alofa today.

He was asked to comment on the speech on foreign affairs and trade made yesterday in Wellington, by the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who acknowledged, “a difficult time for the global economy, with rising rhetoric, escalating tariffs and the prospect of further retaliation to come.” Luxon made the case that the New Zealand government believes that Free Trade works and secures peace, saying, “I think that is worth fighting for and I am up for that fight.”

It was put to Peters that New Zealand is fighting for free trade and a rules based order and plans to spend more on defence.

Addressing that statement, Minister Peters said, “No, we are not.”

“We should be patient," he added.

“We don’t know where the tariff positioning is going."

“In that context, we are very concretely aware of the Pacific trading requirements and we’ll be doing our best as time goes forward to ensure that the American government understands that as well. For example, the balance of trade between Tonga and United States is massively in America’s favour.”

He affirmed that New Zealand is committed to ensuring the Pacific’s story is heard by big countries and that the concerns of smaller countries are presented effectively.

Full-day program

This afternoon Rt. Hon. Peters visited the Masefield Leadership Centre in Touliki, Nuku’alofa, for the launching of a Pacific Maritime Safety Programme, focused on safe boating awareness.

Additionally, he attended a showcase of Economic Development and Climate Smart Agriculture Activities in Eastern Tongatapu, held at the Lapaha Packhouse.

The final event for the New Zealand visitors was a virtual tour of the new Parliament building design, followed by an engagement with the youth Parliament at the Tonga Parliament Chambers.

The New Zealand delegation arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport last night, 10 April.

They are scheduled to depart Tonga on Saturday, 12 April, enroute to Honolulu DKII Airport, with their return to New Zealand scheduled for April 17.

Coalition government

Rt. Hon. Peters has been deputy prime minister of New Zealand [2] since November 2023.

He was born of Maori and Scottish ancestry in Whangarei on 11 April 1945 (making him 80-years-old today in Tonga).

Peters first entered the New Zealand House of Representatives for the National Party in the 1978 general election. He later founded New Zealand First, a populist [3] party with a Māori character, backed by ex-Labour and National voters alike disenchanted with neoliberalism. He helped form the current national government. After entering into a coalition [4] agreement with National leader Christopher Luxon, Peters serves as Luxon's deputy prime minister from 27 November 2023 to 31 May 2025.