Search

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today joined Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna in Rarotonga to announce improved pension portability for those looking to retire to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau from New Zealand.

“Changes to the Special Portability Arrangement will allow eligible residents to apply for their pension or veteran’s pension from the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will lead a delegation to Papua New Guinea, the Papua New Guinea Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu next week for the 2013 Pacific Mission.

“The delegation will have the opportunity to meet leaders, see first-hand the challenges confronting the region and the impact New Zealand is having,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today launched the Secondary School Fee Grant Scheme at Alofi O Taoa School on Savai’i, Samoa.

“Removing the burden of school fees from families will give more children access to secondary education, with the chance to gain qualifications and improve their employment opportunities,” Mr McCully says.

The scheme will deliver fee-free education to children in year nine to 11 in government schools, reduced fees for children in mission schools and provide grants to help improve teaching materials.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will visit Samoa and the Cook Islands this week to meet leaders ahead of this year’s Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands.

“This visit is a chance to hear the views of Samoan leaders, including Prime Minister Tuilaepa, ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum and to take stock of our on-going development assistance programme," Mr McCully says.

Next year Samoa will host the third Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference, with over 3000 delegates from around the world.

Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully says the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match schedule announced today is an excellent result for New Zealand.

“Given this is a co-hosted event with Australia, I am delighted with the quality of fixtures allocated to New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.

Christchurch’s Hagley Oval has been provisionally awarded the opening match and New Zealand-based opening festivities.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry that agreement has been reached on a basis for direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

“New Zealand strongly supports the efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry to move the peace process forward through direct negotiations on a two-state solution," Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of Joanna Kempkers as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

“The Cooks Islands is one of our closest neighbours and we have a special relationship founded on close historical ties, unique constitutional arrangements and a common citizenship and currency,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named career diplomat Hamish MacMaster as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

“New Zealand has a strong bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia. It is our most significant market in the Middle East with over 4000 Saudi students coming to New Zealand each year,” Mr McCully says.

Mr MacMaster will work with both Saudi Arabia and the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to implement New Zealand’s recently launched strategy for the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today expressed deep disappointment that the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) did not reach a consensus on the creation of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea region.

A CCAMLR special meeting in Bremerhaven, Germany, this week considered two MPA proposals - the New Zealand-United States Ross Sea region MPA and another by Australia, France and the European Union for a network of MPAs in East Antarctica.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to East Africa next week for bilateral meetings and to attend the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) regional meeting in the Seychelles.

Mr McCully will meet key ministers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, along with the President of the Seychelles, James Michel.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully held talks with his counterpart from the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Hamrokhon Zarifi, in Auckland today.

“Mr Zarifi’s visit is the first by a minister from the Republic of Tajikistan and presents an excellent opportunity to develop closer ties between our two countries,” Mr McCully says.

Mr McCully and Mr Zarifi shared perspectives on regional security issues, and reaffirmed New Zealand and Tajikistan’s commitment to multilateralism as a means for strengthening international security.

Sport and Recreation Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of former Court of Appeal Judge Hon Sir Bruce Robertson as chair of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.

“Sir Bruce’s judicial expertise and previous Tribunal experience as deputy chair will serve him well in this new role,” Mr McCully says.

Sir Bruce also has considerable experience in sport administration, particularly in rugby. He will be supported by newly appointed deputy chair James Farmer QC and reappointed deputy chair Alan Galbraith QC.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Myanmar tomorrow for bilateral meetings and to assess aid requirements in the state of Rakhine.

Mr McCully will depart from Brunei, where he is attending the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

“Myanmar’s Rakhine state has been the scene of communal tensions over the last 12 months and New Zealand has already provided $1 million to the UN World Food Programme’s emergency appeal,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel today to Brunei for bilateral meetings and a series of ASEAN regional meetings.

Mr McCully will attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting.

“Our participation in these regional processes is important. It allows us a voice in discussions that can influence the regional political, security and economic environment,” says Mr McCully.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully launched the New Zealand Inc Strategy for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during a speech to the New Zealand Middle East Business Council in Auckland this evening.

“New Zealand has a strong relationship with the Gulf region,” says Mr McCully. “Our exports to the GCC currently exceed $1.5b a year, and have grown at an average of over 10 per cent for the past three years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the Mauritanian Foreign Minister, Mr Hamadi Ould Baba Ould Hamadi, to New Zealand.

“The visit by Mr Hamadi is the first by a Minister from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and represents an opportunity to develop closer ties between our two countries,” says Mr McCully.

“As a country that straddles North and West Africa, Mauritania has a unique perspective on the region that can enhance New Zealand’s understanding of Africa and the role we can play there.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories today for bilateral meetings and discussions on the Middle East Peace Process.

Mr McCully will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as senior members of their governments.

“I will be making clear to both parties New Zealand's strong wish to see them commence direct talks while the two-state solution remains a viable prospect,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Bail today for the Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Ministers’ meeting.

FEALAC was launched in 2001 to encourage closer links and cooperation between the two regions.

"New Zealand has significant ties with Asia and we are committed to developing closer relationships with Latin American countries through the Government’s Latin America Strategy," Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed a move by Australia to extend its student loan scheme to long-term New Zealand residents.

Australia’s Tertiary Education Minister Craig Emerson today announced many New Zealanders will, from January 2015, be eligible to apply for the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) for tertiary education or vocational training.

Japan and New Zealand have a long record of international cooperation based on shared interests and objectives.  The partnership between the two countries is founded on common values, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as a strong commitment to peace and security, free trade and investment, and sustainable development.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, will visit New Zealand this weekend.

Mr Kishida’s visit will be the first by a Cabinet minister in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, which came into power in late 2012.

“Japan’s participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations opens a new chapter in our bilateral relationship,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will provide a further $1.7 million to help those displaced by the conflict in Syria.

“New Zealanders continue to be appalled by the on-going death and destruction in Syria,” Mr McCully says

“The number of Syrian refuges in neighbouring countries has reportedly reached over 1.4 million, placing massive strain on the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul to a new consulate in Perth, Western Australia.

“With the fastest growing economy of any Australian state, Western Australia has great potential for New Zealand businesses,” Mr McCully says.

“It is home to over 70,000 New Zealanders, and regular flights between Auckland and Perth have increased prospects for tourism and goods and services exports.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will depart Monday on a trip to India and Sri Lanka.

In India, Mr McCully will meet the External Affairs, Sports and Commerce ministers to discuss ways to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

“This is also a chance to take stock of the NZ Inc India Strategy and review progress in our bilateral FTA negotiations,” Mr McCully says.

While in Sri Lanka, Mr McCully will meet the ministers of External Affairs and Economic Development.