Meeting Brief: Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna
Time and date:
3:00pm, Friday 15 December 2023
Henry Puna was Prime Minister of Cook Islands from 2010 to 2020. He
stood down as Prime Minister in June 2020 to contest the Pacific Islands
Forum Secretary General role, taking up a three year term in May 2021.
In mid-2024, former Nauru President Baron Waqa will take over the role,
as decided by Leaders in February 2023.
Puna was educated at New Plymouth Boys’ High School and t
ol and
and he
University of Auckland, and worked as a lawyer before enter
eering polit
ing poli
ng po ics.
Act
Key objectives
x
Seek Puna’s views on the health of Pacific regionalism and its
t r
s e
rr s
e ilie
s
nc
ilien e to the threats of
climate change, geostrategic competition and compounding developm
g develo
devel p
o
ent challenges.
Key points
x
Emphasise the
importance New Zealand places on t
n the Paci
e P
fic Islands Forum (PIF) as
Information
our region’s premier political institution. The Pacifi
ci c, and
fic, and the P
t
IF, has never mattered more
for New Zealand’s own security and prosperity
ty.
y.
x
Seek
Puna’s reflections on his term as Secret
s Secre ary
a
General, which has seen challenges
to regional unity, responding to COVID-19 an
19
d i
and n
i creased interest from external partners.
x
Acknowledge
Puna’s leadership in the i
the m
i ple
m
mentation of the Suva Agreement, which
Official
saw the Micronesian Members return
re
to
turn
eturn t the Forum. This included the endorsement of
former Nauru President Baron Waqa a
n Waqa s
a the next Secretary General, s6(a), s6(b)(ii)
r the
th
er
x
Seek Puna’s
views on
s on h
ow
ho
h
to strengthen PIF unity following the Suva Agreement.
under
ws on
x
Seek Puna’s
’s r
re
reflect
ec ions on how the
PIF should manage parallel architecture
established by
hed by
d by dia
di
d logue partners, s6(a)
x
s6(a), s6(b)(ii)
as
6(b)(ii)
lea
Released
ele
Rel
Re
R
Pacific Regional Division
December 2023
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Page 2 of 3
Meeting Brief: Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
Time and date:
4:30pm, Friday 15 December, Victoria Room, Grand Pacific Hotel
Hon Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji’s Prime Minister for the second time in
December 2022 (his previous term ran from 1992-99). He also holds the
Foreign Affairs, Climate Change, Environment, Civil Service, Information,
Public Enterprises and Veterans Affairs portfolios.
Act
Key objectives
x
Reconnect with Prime Minister Rabuka and seek his views on his gover
s gove nment’
rn
govern
s priorities,
a year on from being elected. Discuss how New Zealand can bes
besst suppo
supp
sup rt Fiji.
x
Discuss Pacific regional priorities including geo-strategic develop
develo
vel m
p ents and Prime Minister
Rabuka’s “Zone of Peace” concept.
Key points
Information
x
Making your
first visit this term to Fiji and the Pa
nd the P
d the P cific Islands Forum Secretariat
underscores the importance the Government pl
ent a
pl c
a es on ou
ces
c
r relationship and the region.
x
We appreciate Fiji’s role in
hosting the
g th PIF
e P Secretariat and brokering the Suva
Agreement as PIF Chair in 2022. s6(a)
a) Official
Of
O
e
x
s6(a)
the
the
th
err
x
Enquire about Prime
rime Mini
Min
i ster Rabuka’s
experience leading Fiji’s first Coalition
der
Government. How is
ow is
w is the G
thee overnment of Fiji’s programme developing and does he see any
particular challenges
allen
le
ahe
ges a
ges
ad?
unde
x
We are keen to
keen
en t unde
to u
o
rstand how New Zealand can
best support Fiji’s development and
other pr
priorities
or
o i
r t
i ie .
x
s6(a)
6(a) lea
Released
Rele
Re
x
s6(a), s6(b)(i)
x
PIF Leaders recently agreed to develop Prime Minister
Rabuka’s “Zone of Peace”
concept. It is currently in its early stages and so we are interested in hearing his vision.
x
Prime Minister Rabuka has taken on a
role as a PIF Special Envoy for engagement with
Indonesia on Papua. We would be interested in understanding how that engagement has
gone so far and what are the next steps from Fiji's perspective.
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Page 3 of 3
x
New Zealand is becoming increasingly concerned about the
deteriorating situation in
Gaza. Our recent joint statement with Australia and Canada, reflects the priority we attach
to the safety of all civilians, the critical need for more humanitarian support, adherence to
international law and an end to the violence.
Fiji voted in support of the recent UN
General Assembly Resolution. We are interested in Fiji’s thinking on the conflict.
x
s6(a)
x
s6(a)
Actct
Act
Ac
New Zealand High Commission Suva; Pacific Melanesia and Micrones
nee ia
si
s
a
ia Divis
Div ion
December 2023
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Official
the
under
Released
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