Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New Zealand minister heads to Marshalls, Kiribati, Tuvalu

Posted at 20:13 on 07 December, 2012 UTC

The New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will today travel to the Pacific for meetings in the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Mr McCully says the Marshall Islands will host the Pacific Islands Forum in 2013 and New Zealand is keen to support it given its recent experience hosting and chairing the Forum.

He says New Zealand makes a significant investment in the on-going sustainable economic development of Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Mr McCully says he will be able to see first-hand the difference New Zealand’s aid dollars are making.

Mr McCully will also pay respects at the New Zealand Coastwatchers memorial in Kiribati.

It is 70 years since 17 New Zealand Coastwatchers were executed there during World War Two.