PIHOM Lunch for NZ Ministers of Foreign Affairs & Climate Change
29th October 2021
Front row, left to right: High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea (HE Brigadier General Francis Agwi (Retired)), Samoa High Commissioner and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, (HE Leasi Scanlan), NZ Minister for Climate Change (Hon James Shaw), NZ Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Hon Nanaia Mahuta), High Commissioner of the Cook Islands (HE Elizabeth Wright-Koteka) and Acting High Commissioner of Vanuatu (Ms Sanianna Trief).
Back row, left to right: MFAT Divisional Manager for Polynesia & French Pacific (Jackie Frizelle), Acting High Commissioner of the Solomon Islands (Mr John Kemakeza), High Commissioner of Fiji (HE Filimone Waqabaca), High Commissioner of Niue (HE Fisa Igilisi Pihigia) and High Commissioner of Tuvalu (HE Paulson Panapa).
Photo provided by Mr Aaron Packard, Acting Strategic Communications Manager, Office of Hon James Shaw.
Back row, left to right: MFAT Divisional Manager for Polynesia & French Pacific (Jackie Frizelle), Acting High Commissioner of the Solomon Islands (Mr John Kemakeza), High Commissioner of Fiji (HE Filimone Waqabaca), High Commissioner of Niue (HE Fisa Igilisi Pihigia) and High Commissioner of Tuvalu (HE Paulson Panapa).
Photo provided by Mr Aaron Packard, Acting Strategic Communications Manager, Office of Hon James Shaw.
On Thursday 28 October, the Pacific Island Heads of Mission (PIHOM) from 8 countries with High Commissions in New Zealand hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Hon Nanaia Mahuta) and the Minister for Climate Change (Hon James Shaw) for lunch at the Samoa High Commissioner’s Residence. The High Commissioner of the Cook Islands (HE Elizabeth Wright-Koteka) said the Opening Prayer before HE Leasi Scanlan welcomed the Distinguished Guests on behalf of the PIHOM. This was followed by short addresses by both Hon Ministers and lively discussion on issues of priority interest and concern to the Pacific Island Countries. Such issues include; COVID-19, Climate Change, Post-covid recovery, Infrastructure development, Resilience and Capacity constraints. In concluding, the Dean and Samoa High Commissioner thanked the Ministers for the honour of their company and for sharing the New Zealand Government’s plans for the Island Countries in the period ahead. The PIHOM were further honoured when the Minister of Foreign Affairs ended the lunch and Korero with a beautiful Waiata reflecting her Tainui heritage.