Pacific

The Ministry's Pacific Division manages New Zealand's bilateral and multilateral relationships in the South Pacific region. The Division is involved in a wide range of issues including political and economic relations, trade relations, defence and regional security, environment and fisheries management, and disaster relief assistance.

• Pacific information papers
• Events
• Fiji
• Key Pacific issues
• Travel advice

Pacific information papers

We provide key data, political and economic information and explain New Zealand's bilateral relationship with the following countries and territories in the Pacific:

Events

• Pacific Energy Summit - Auckland March 24-26
• The first Commission meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) - Auckland from 28 January to 1 February
• Oceans and the law of the sea - United Nations General Assembly Agenda item 76 - H.E. Jim McLay, 11 December 2011
• Pacific Islands Forum - New Zealand hosted the 42^nd meeting, 6^th - 9^th September 2011
• Pacific Snapshot Seminar, Auckland, 19 November 2009 - Booklet (PDF 350KB)
• Informal Forum Trade Participants Meeting, 8-9 May 2009, Auckland

Fiji

Information on New Zealand and Fiji including:

• Press releases
• Frequently asked questions
• Travel sanctions against Fiji (Immigration New Zealand, PDF 55KB)

Key Pacific issues

• Trade - The Pacific is an important market, with New Zealand's exports to the region now worth more than NZ$1 billion a year.
• Environment and the Oceans - Environment priorities for New Zealand in the Pacific include climate change, the protection of whales and concerns over the shipment of spent nuclear material through the region.
• Regional Security - Security has become a significant focus of the Pacific Islands Forum's work in recent years.
• Fisheries - The Pacific is the world's most significant tuna fishing area, valued at up to $US2 billion and supplying a third of world tuna production. Safeguarding and managing the region's fish stocks is a major concern.
• Economic - Rapid population growth, pressure on resources, and weak economic growth present substantial risks for the Pacific region.
• Health and Social - The Pacific region faces a range of health challenges. In Polynesia "lifestyle" non-communicable diseases (NCDs - such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and some forms of cancer) are the major health concerns.
• Disaster relief - New Zealand responds to cyclones and other natural disasters in the Pacific. Pacific Division coordinates an Emergency Task Force that responds to natural disasters 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Travel advice

The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to the Pacific [external link].

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