New Zealand is playing host this week to more than sixty Pacific parliamentarians and political leaders, including eight MP’s from the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.  They are in Wellington for the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum, organised by the New Zealand Parliament to give Pacific politicians and leaders and New Zealand MPs an opportunity to strengthen their networks in the region.

Victoria University of Wellington’s Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika, Associate Professor Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, is visiting Papua New Guinea from the 17th to the 24th of March to discuss opportunities for the University to increase its ties with Papua New Guinea.

The goal of the New Zealand Scholarships scheme in PNG is to contribute to equitable economic growth and poverty reduction in Papua New Guinea.  Through scholarships for tertiary education and skills development, New Zealand contributes to a growing cadre of well-educated and highly-skilled people with the necessary abilities and qualifications to contribute to positive development outcomes and generate and sustain economic growth.

Updated 8 August, 9am NZ time: There was a brief eruption from Mt Tongariro in the central North Island just before midnight on 6 August, New Zealand time.