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Foreign Minister Murray McCully will next week visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 20th Session of the African Union Executive Council on 25-26 January.

“This summit provides New Zealand with an opportunity to engage with ministers from nearly all of the 54 African Union states and convey our excellent credentials for United Nations Security Council membership in 2015-16," Mr McCully said.

Mr McCully will also meet with Ethiopian Government ministers while in Addis Ababa.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Solomon Islands today to meet with the Prime Minister and Cabinet members, and to visit key aid projects.

"This will be my first chance to meet with Gordon Darcy Lilo since he became Prime Minister in November," Mr McCully said.

"New Zealand and the Solomon Islands have a close and longstanding relationship. We will be discussing a range of issues including regional matters, New Zealand's development assistance programme and the RAMSI transition.

The announcement by the Fiji administration that the Public Emergency Regulations will be lifted on 7 January has been welcomed by the New Zealand Government.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the New Zealand Government has been calling for the lifting of the regulations as an important step towards the holding of free and fair elections.

The New Zealand Government will contribute $500,000 to the relief efforts of the Philippines Red Cross, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

The Philippines Red Cross is providing urgent humanitarian assistance to people affected by Typhoon Washi. Typhoon Washi struck the Mindanao region in southern Philippines in mid December, killing more than 1000 people and displacing 285,000. Estimates suggest 470,000 people have been affected.

New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Japan will be career diplomat Mark Sinclair, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

"The special relationship between Japan and New Zealand was most evident this year as we came to each other's aid following major disasters," Mr McCully said.

“This appointment comes at an important time in our relationship with our two countries celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2012.

Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States call for responsible behaviour in Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary

The Governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States jointly condemn any actions that imperil human life in the Southern Ocean.

We are deeply concerned that confrontations in the Southern Ocean will eventually lead to injury or loss of life among protestors, many of whom may be nationals of our countries, and whaling crews.