This will be the first official trip by the newly elected New Zealand government to Samoa as their Deputy Prime Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters and Pacific People’s Minister Dr. Shane Reti meet with the Government of Samoa.

The trip undertaken by Vaovasamanaia and Dr. Reti has been dubbed the Pacific Mission. The two started with Tonga, were in the Cook Islands on Thursday and arrive in Samoa on Friday.

As usual, there will be an announcement of aid from the New Zealand government. Tracing the steps of the two ministers in Tonga and Cook Islands, there will be an announcement of aid which will be targetted at climate change.

In Tonga, Vaovasamanaia announced that New Zealand will give NZ$20 million to the Pacific towards an initiative aimed at strengthening severe weather and early warning capabilities.

While in Rarotonga, he announced that NZ$16.5 million to go to the Cook Islands to help fight the impact of climate change.

A similar announcement is likely to be made in Samoa when Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Vaovasamanaia front the media after their bilateral talks.

More interest to Samoa would be issues regarding immigration as the service being provided by New Zealand Immigration according to many Samoans is not what they expect. Some people have experienced waiting months for visitor visas.

Unlike the previous New Zealand government, where Jacinda Arden was seen to be a ‘friend’ of the Pacific and had constant engagements with the Pacific, this is the first time the new government will venture into the Pacific.

There is already a feeling back in New Zealand that the current government is not as Pacific-friendly as the previous one. This could be an exercise to change the perspective. In a time, where the geopolitical focus is on the Pacific, the island nations are watching and waiting to see if the New Zealand government will continue with the same vigour as they used to.

The Savalalo Market which is being built with New Zealand aid could also be part of the travel itinerary for the Pacific Mission.

In the Cook Islands, Dr. Reti took a tour of the Cook Islands hospital. Hopefully, a similar tour is planned for Samoa.

In Tonga, Vaovasamanaia told the media after opening their new pharmaceutical facility that this was a long-term investment.

“It’s about investment in a part of the world we live in, which we’ve all got a very, very acute interest in the events going forward and the kind of environment that we’re living in.”

He said the conversation was helpful, to establish what he described as plans of action.

“But also to tick off our record of performance - not to let things drag by, but ensure things happen in the interest of both of our countries and, indeed, the wider Pacific.”