The Vanuatu – New Zealand bilateral partnership was described as “trusted and highly valued” by senior officials this week.
Ministry of the Prime Minister Director General Georges Maniuri co-chaired High-Level Consultations on 3 September with visiting New Zealand Foreign Affairs senior official Greg Andrews. Directors General and key Directors from 13 Vanuatu ministries participated and shared reflections on the Vanuatu – New Zealand partnership, its impact and potential.
Officials highlighted that the Mauri Partnership statement signed in 2023 remains at the heart of the relationship, setting out shared values including respect for each other’s unique kastom, diverse heritage, and democratic principles.
The discussions noted the increasingly challenging regional and global context of the partnership, and the importance of Pacific solidarity, respect for international law, and joint cooperation in the multilateral system.
The meeting highlighted the contributions of New Zealand’s development programme in Vanuatu, and noted New Zealand is Vanuatu’s second-largest grant donor after Australia. Between 2024 and 2027, New Zealand will provide more than V10 billion (NZ$144 million) in support in a wide range of areas including renewable energy, health, scholarships, education, access to safe drinking water, and strengthening governance.
Around V2 billion of this assistance is directed towards Vanuatu’s economic development priorities, including construction of the South Paray Wharf, support to combat the Coconut Rhinoceros beetle, assistance for Vanuatu’s fisheries management programmes, and support to boost production, quality, and export potential of Vanuatu products like cacao and kava.
New Zealand High Commissioner Nicci Simmonds said New Zealand was especially pleased to have been able to support Vanuatu’s earthquake recovery efforts this year with an additional commitment of V706 million (NZ$10 million). This included specialist structural and geotechnical engineering support, construction initiatives focused on tourism infrastructure on the Port Vila seafront, and soon also school reconstruction.
New Zealand’s contributions to community safety in Vanuatu were highlighted. Vanuatu officials commended New Zealand Police’s collaboration with the VPF to embed community policing approaches with a focus on crime prevention, and referred to a desire for ‘fast tracking’ of the rollout of community safety teams.
Through partnerships with NGOs like Wan Smol Bag and REACH Centre New Zealand also makes significant contributions to youth and community well-being.
