Richard Butler | RNZ | 4 Dec 2018
New Zealand foreign affairs minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is to create 14 new diplomatic posts as part of its so called ‘Pacific Reset’.
The reset aims for a heightened focus on the Pacific and today’s announcement will see the diplomatic and development positions created offshore.
Mr Peters said the new posts would be in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Hawai’i.
In addition four new diplomats will be placed in Tokyo, Beijing, Brussels, and New York, “to co-ordinate development policy and partnerships for the Pacific region”.
Mr Peters said the ministry would also strengthen its capability in Wellington to ensure it’s making a targeted difference for the Pacific.
He said this was a first step in demonstrating New Zealand’s commitment to making the Pacific safer and more prosperous and to enhance the country’s voice in the region.
