Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will be among the influential leaders who will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji.

Fiame Naomi Mataafa who is also the Foreign Minister will attend the meeting before flying off to New York and use the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with her New Zealand counterpart.

Ms. Mahuta said in a statement that Aotearoa New Zealand was deeply committed to working with the Pacific whanau to strengthen cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent.

“The Forum is the core platform for Pacific countries to talanoa and build consensus on issues of shared interest and importance like climate change, regional security and ensuring we continue to work together to maintain strong regional unity,” she said.

“This meeting will be an opportunity to connect and discuss — as Pacific partners, kanohi ki te kanohi — how the region can continue to work together in response to the many pressures affecting Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, and in ways that support Pacific priorities and enhance Pacific mana.”

“This will include agreeing to an implementation plan for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent — our region’s North Star, guiding us as we work together and with our partners to secure the future of our region.

“Engagement that recognises, advances and reinforces Pacific leadership on regional security, and on climate ambition and climate resilience, is also critical to maintaining strong regional unity — and to supporting security and prosperity, both for the Pacific and here, in Aotearoa New Zealand,” Mahuta said.

Nanaia Mahuta departed New Zealand on 13 September. While in Fiji, she will also undertake bilateral meetings with Forum Foreign Ministers.

The Meeting on 15 September will be chaired by the host Chair of the upcoming Forum Leaders Meeting in the Cook Islands, Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown.

One of the key priorities for deliberation will be the implementation plan of the 2050 Strategy; the five-year implementation plan is scheduled to be endorsed at the upcoming Forum Leaders meeting.

In line with the 2050 Strategy, Ministers will deliberate on global and regional strategic trends and dynamics, the climate crisis, and a revitalised gender equality declaration.

This will include the region’s key engagement and advocacy priorities, including the preparation for the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) and US-PIF Summit, the upcoming Forum Leaders Meeting, COP28, and the release of treated Fukushima nuclear wastewater by Japan into the Pacific Ocean.

“Forum Foreign Ministers will also consider the Outcomes of recent Ministerial Meetings, including the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, the Forum Economic Ministerial, and the Forum Fisheries Ministerial Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), so on top of the work programmes around the 2050 implementation and international engagement and advocacy, there is much work to do,” said Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna.