NZ: Key’s absence at Forum noted

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key’s absence was duly noted by host president Tommy Remengesau at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, who made it clear he wanted him there.

“I would be lying to you if I said we didn’t want him here – we wanted him here,” said Remengesau.

New Zealand could do more to co-operate with smaller Pacific island states, Palau’s president said.

He told reporters after the Small Island States conference that New Zealand and Australia were seen as “big brother” countries that could speak for the issues and challenges all island nations faced, but did not always provide enough support to them.

It is the first Pacific Islands Forum Key has missed since he was elected prime minister. He said it was simply too close to the election to attend it this time.

“New Zealand is certainly a big brother here, along with Australia. To be very honest I wish we had more cooperation with New Zealand, not just the ocean initiatives, but climate change and other issues.”

His country, he said, wanted and needed better support.

“To be very honest, I wish we would have more co-operation with New Zealand, not just on the ocean initiatives, but on climate change as well as other issues,” he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Murray McCully admitted New Zealand should be doing more in the north of the Pacific.

“It’s one of the reasons we have opened a post in Honolulu. I think we do need to do more here, and that’s what we have geared up to achieve that,” he said.

“I am honoured to be representing the prime minister at the event,” said McCully, who flew to Palau after attending the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In what proved to be nice timing, the New Zealand announced it would provide $5 million to improve the management of fisheries in the region, and update the region’s navigation charts.