Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Minister Murray McCully have announced that the New Zealand Defence Force have completed post-Winston relief operations in Fiji and are preparing to return home.

"The NZDF’s operation in Fiji is one of our biggest peacetime deployments to the Pacific, with close to 500 personnel, two ships and six aircraft, involved in delivering hundreds of tonnes of critical aid," Mr Brownlee says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York this weekend for UN Security Council related meetings, and will then travel to the UK, Germany and France.

Minister McCully will participate in a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East region on Monday 18 April and will undertake a series of related bilateral meetings in New York.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the upcoming visit to New Zealand by 10 Pacific Fisheries Ministers.

“The Pacific’s largest asset economic asset is its fisheries and we are committed to helping Pacific nations to manage this resource in a sustainable way,” Mr McCully says.

“Next week Ministers from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, will be in New Zealand to gain a first-hand understanding of our approach to fisheries management.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to the Middle East this weekend for meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. 

“As an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, New Zealand has a role to play in addressing the pressing crises affecting the Middle East, including the conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced a $10 million package to help Fiji repair public infrastructure following Cyclone Winston.

“The impact of Cyclone Winston was widespread and Fiji now faces the long and expensive task of restoring infrastructure,” Mr McCully says.

“Of the funding announced today, $500,000 will used to supply building materials for projects being undertaken by the New Zealand Defence Force in the Lau Islands.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is in the Cook Islands this week for the annual Cook Islands-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Forum.

“My discussions with Prime Minister Puna and members of his Cabinet will cover a range of matters including New Zealand’s development assistance to the Cook Islands as well as a number of regional issues,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the launch of a New Zealand based Pacific think-tank aimed at supporting sustainable development in the region.

“We have identified the need for more targeted research on the Pacific, to underpin development initiatives and support Pacific decision makers,” Mr McCully says.

“The New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research (NZIPR) will work in support of Pacific governments and regional agencies, and will focus on producing the kind of hard-headed analysis that can support sustainable economic development.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has described the most recent Israeli appropriation of land in the occupied Palestinian territories as deeply unhelpful. 

“Israel’s settlement activity continues to threaten the viability of a two-state solution,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand would like to see both sides return to the negotiating table and this latest announcement will only serve to push the two parties further apart.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the start of an official visit to New Zealand by the United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“The UAE is an important partner for New Zealand in the Gulf region and our 10th largest export destination,” Mr McCully says.

“Our talks will focus on expanding two way trade, regional security issues, and the UAE’s support for renewable energy initiatives in the Pacific.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Australia this week to meet with his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop. 

“These twice-yearly Foreign Ministers’ Consultations are an opportunity to exchange views across a range of foreign policy issues,” Mr McCully says. 

“As well as taking stock of the Trans-Tasman relationship, we will discuss developments in the Pacific, including the post Cyclone Winston recovery effort, and how New Zealand and Australia best assist Fiji. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif in Wellington this afternoon.

“We are very pleased to welcome Minister Zarif to New Zealand. His visit is the first by an Iranian Foreign Minister in over ten years and allows us to refresh the relationship between our two countries following the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal in January,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Singapore this week to meet Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

“This will be my first visit to Singapore since the country’s general elections in September last year and it is an opportunity to discuss trade and security issues with the new Government,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution imposing new strengthened sanctions on North Korea.

“New Zealand has already condemned North Korea’s recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch,” Mr McCully says.

“North Korea’s actions blatantly contravene previous Security Council resolutions and stand in direct opposition to international opinion. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced diplomat Linda Te Puni as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Tuvalu.

“New Zealand’s relationship with Tuvalu continues to go from strength to strength  and I am pleased to announce that Ms Te Puni will be New Zealand’s new non-resident High Commissioner to Tuvalu,” Mr McCully says

“We have recently completed two major aid projects in Tuvalu focused on renewable energy and the rehabilitation of the ‘borrow pits’.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced a $1.5 million increase to New Zealand’s aid package to Fiji as it recovers from Cyclone Winston. The announcement comes following Minister McCully’s visit to Fiji yesterday and takes New Zealand’s total support to over $4.7 million.

“The devastation caused by Cyclone Winston is very serious. Nearly 55,000 people remain in evacuation centres and the people of Fiji now face the difficult task of rebuilding their lives,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will visit Fiji today to discuss the response to Tropical Cyclone Winston with the Fiji Government and look at how New Zealand can support recovery efforts.

“The damage to property, and loss of life caused by Cyclone Winston in parts of Fiji is almost unprecedented in the Pacific,” Mr McCully says. 

“Our total contribution to the relief effort now stands at $3.2 million and NZDF assets and personnel are helping to deliver supplies and repair damage to critical infrastructure.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is in Apia today to participate in a ceremony marking the handover of the new Tokelau ferry, the MV Mataliki. 

“The Mataliki is a purpose-built vessel that has been specifically designed to carry passengers and cargo between Samoa and the three atolls of Tokelau,” Mr McCully says.

“Tokelau can only be reached by ship so this vessel is a vital lifeline for the atolls. The Mataliki will sail between Samoa and Tokelau fortnightly, offering a safe, reliable, and faster service for the people of Tokelau. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that the Navy’s Multi-Role Vessel the HMNZS Canterbury will be sent to Fiji to support relief and recovery efforts following tropical cyclone Winston. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced a further Defence Force flight to Fiji and $1.8 million in funding, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to relief efforts following Tropical Cyclone Winston to more than $2 million.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has outlined the initial support that New Zealand will provide to Fiji as they respond to Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“Tropical Cyclone Winston appears to have caused major damage on the Northern Coast of Vitu Levu and sadly one person has now been confirmed dead,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand stands ready to assist the people of Fiji as they deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Winston and we are in close contact with the Government of Fiji.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand has completed the domestic processes required to lift the United Nations sanctions against Iran.

“We are pleased to support the Iran nuclear deal and the changes to our domestic regulations, which come into force today, will make it easier New Zealanders to do business with Iran,” Mr McCully says

“The main impact is that companies trading with Iran will no longer need to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Suva this week to meet with Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

“This will be my first visit to Suva since the 2014 elections and it is an opportunity to discuss our ongoing re-engagement directly with the Government of Fiji,” Mr McCully says.

"My discussions with Minister Kubuabola and other Government representatives will cover a range of matters including regional issues, trade, and our aid and development programme.