PETERS VISITS FIJI FOR SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM ECONOMIC MINISTERS' MEETING

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Winston Peters will represent New Zealand at the annual South Pacific Forum Economic Ministers' meeting in Fiji from Monday 6 July to Wednesday 8 July.

Mr Peters is expected to speak on economic issues and the outlook for New Zealand against the background of the downturn in Asia.

He will be accompanied by the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury John Whitehead. Two officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also attend the meeting.

Before the conference Mr Peters will spend a couple of days in Fiji with his two children who are on school holidays. He and his family travelled economy class and Mr Peters has paid for all their private accommodation and his children's airfares.