Prime Minister (PM) James Marape is meeting New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday (25.03.25) evening in Wellington to discuss trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, education and security as well as other areas of mutual concern between the two countries. PM Marape is on his first ‘guest of government’ visit to New Zealand, accompanied by his spouse, and delegation including Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko; Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru; Minister for Livestock, Sekie Agisa; and Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Kinoka Feo. Meeting with Prime Minister Luxon reaffirms the bilateral partnership that has existed between the two Pacific nations since PNG gained Independence in 1975. New Zealand signed a Statement of Partnership with Papua New Guinea in 2021 under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and PM Marape to have the two countries work more collaboratively in enhancing trade and investment, and areas of mutual concern between New Zealand and PNG. This is being refreshed this week when PM Luxon and PM Marape sign a new Statement of Partnership for 2025 – 2029 after their bilateral meeting on Tuesday. The events signal a growing relationship between the two countries, especially in trade and investment, cultural exchange, and the newly-added Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme – the Pacific labour mobility program that New Zealand has extended to Papua New Guineans to work in New Zealand. PM Marape said this visit reflects PNG and NZ's shared domestic priorities on economic growth, attracting foreign direct investment, strengthening engagement in the Indo-pacific, and improving the efficiency of the countries’ respective public services. “I am looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Luxon to further entrench our relationship with New Zealand. We highly value New Zealand as a brother in the Pacific family of nations, the Pacific Islands Forum; and also, in the bigger Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation family; and for the contributions New Zealand has made in resolving the Bougainville crisis and continues to make in negotiating the settlement of Bougainville autonomy, as recently demonstrated in the appointment of special moderator, Sir Jerry Mateparae. “New Zealand has a thriving horticulture sector, which has opened up to Papua New Guineans under the RSE scheme. New Zealand has also opened up its scholarship to our students here in PNG who have been studying there for a while now. “I will be conveying our gratitude in person to PM Luxon when I sit with him; and also discuss ways on improving trade and investments, growth in agriculture, fisheries and security enhancement between our two countries. It will be a good meeting,” said PM Marape. Mr. Marape will entrench this bilateral meeting when he follows through with a further meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winstons Peters on Wednesday, 26 March 2025; and a courtesy call on Leader of the Opposition, Chris Hipkins later that day. Another meeting specifically on security will be held to tie off the meetings for that day.