Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele arrived in New Zealand yesterday, May 13 at the start of week-long visit during which he will meet the New Zealand Prime Minister Hon. John Key in Wellington next week, and also give two addresses at New Zealand universities.

Dr Sevele called on the New Zealand Governor General HE Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO at his residence in Wellington yesterday afternoon, before attending a welcome dinner hosted by Hon. Gerry Brownlee, Minister for Economic Development.

During a brief stopover in Auckland yesterday Dr Sevele had an informal meeting with Melino Maka, chair of the New Zealand Tongan Advisory Council and Gilbert Ullrich chairman of the New Zealand Pacific Business Council at the Auckland Airport. They wanted to encourage co-ventures and partnership between New Zealand and Tongan businesses and told the Prime Minister that they felt that the time was right to redirect New Zealand businesses investment from Asia and elsewhere to the Pacific. It was agreed for the formation of working committees in New Zealand and Tonga.

Today, after a luncheon and meeting with the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully, Dr Sevele will travel to Christchurch. He will give the "Pacific Cooperation Foundation Annual Pacific Address" speaking on the Tonga-New Zealand relationship, at Canterbury University this evening.

The address will be repeated at Victoria University in Wellington on Monday evening.