Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa

Posted at 23:08 on 18 November, 2011 UTC

A Polynesian Leaders Group has been formed following a meeting in Samoa.

Leaders and representatives from Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook islands, Samoa, Niue, American Samoa, French Polynesia and Tokelau signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the PLG.

At the meeting, the group agreed to work together to seek a future for their peoples and to maintain and protect the importance of their cultures, traditions and languages.

They also said observing democratic values and protecting human rights was a priority.

The chair of the meeting, Samoa’s prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi, also pointed out that the PLG will could work alongside the Melanesian Spearhead Group and also the Micronesian leaders group.

The first annual meeting of the PLG will be in the Cook islands next year.