Premier Tagelagi in Wellington this week meets Prime Minister Hipkins

Premier Dalton Tagelagi and his delegation are in Wellington this week and yesterday met with New Zealand Prime Minister Right Hon. Chris Hipkins.

According to a press statement from the government, Premier Tagelagi congratulated Prime Minister Hipkins with a warm hug and expressed the sympathies of the people and the government of Niue to the people and the government of New Zealand at the loss and devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Premier Dalton Tagelagi is the first Pacific leader to meet with Prime Minister Hipkins since he was appointed Prime Minister last month.

The two leaders spoke on numerous issues facing the region including “climate change, economic development, post COVID-19 support, and discussed the progress made at the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Meeting last week”.

“The leaders reaffirmed the close friendship, forged through shared people and constitutional ties and reflected on the significance of the upcoming 50^th anniversary of Niue’s self-government in free association with New Zealand next year”.

Also on the itinerary for the Premier while in Wellington this week was the acceptance of the credentials of the Ambassador of Cuba and the High Commissioner of India to Niue.

The Ambassador of Cuba H.E Edgardo Valdes Lopez and the High Commissioner of India to Niue H.E Neeta Bhushan presented their credentials to the Premier Hon. Dalton Tagelagi yesterday.

According to the statement from the government, “The meeting with the High Commissioner of India was productive with “ good state of bilateral relations and the coincidences between India and Niue regarding the concern for the well-being of their peoples, peace, multilateralism, technology, the environment and other values and principles that unite them.

Niue’s relationship with India has seen India invest in Niue’s telecommunications with 4G and has established the CEIT – the Centre of Excellence for Information Technology that supports learning and IT training for Niue residents as Niue moves to digital platforms in its development.”

The meeting with the Ambassador of Cuba was an opportunity for the Cuban representative to convey the message of friendship and their commitment “to work to develop the relationship between both peoples and governments.”

Niue and Cuba formalized diplomatic relations in 2014.

“Premier Tagelagi acknowledged the friendly relationship between the two nations with the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Niue. Both sides shared their common interests and discussed enhanced engagement across various sectors of climate change and health care”.

Also this week Premier Tagelagi will also be meeting with representatives of the Kiwibank, Air New Zealand, Niue Trust Fund trustees as well as Matson Shipping.

The delegation in Wellington from Niue includes the Secretary to Government Peleni Talagi, Financial Secretary Doreen Siataga, and Head of External Affairs Emi Hipa joined by Niue’s High Commissioner to New Zealand H.E Hon. Fisa Pihigia.