New Zealand’s Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, Aupito William Sio says Fiji is well on track in terms of economic recovery.

Mr Sio arrived in the country last Friday and is here to meet with Pacific Marine Ministers to discuss issues about the Blue Pacific Continent.

In an interview at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Nadi on Friday, Mr Sio said he witnessed that Fiji was bustling and people looked proud that tourists were in the country bringing in revenue.

He said he was looked after by the Fijian people and was grateful for the generosity of spirit.

“The Pacific is very different and I love the fact that we continue to show our values of hospitality, our values of family and those values are very much the values of Aotearoa, New Zealand so it is good to be home,” said Mr Sio.

He highlighted that Fiji played a significant role as the chair of the Pacific Island Forum.

“When it comes to climate change and our oceans, the protection of our marine resources is something that is a priority to all Pacific Island Forum and we are happy to continue supporting that using whatever means that we have to amplify our voice in the Pacific region at all forums,” he said.

“The region is our home, it matters to us and so our way of doing things is that you have a Minister of Foreign Affairs who is of indigenous to Aotearoa, New Zealand and the values that they hold dear, values that resonate with our Pacific families.

“Our approach is one that will always be consistent, we want to make sure that we’re engaging and supporting members of our family in whatever way we can.

“You’ve got the USP (University of the South Pacific) that is an important strategic asset for the well-being and education of all our young people and things that we value and want to make sure that the benefits of those assets, including our oceans, are going to be able to provide thriving and prosperous lives for our children now and in the future.”

Mr Sio added that all leaders of the Pacific Island Forum were unable to sleep well as they constantly thought about the protection of their homelands from rising seawater levels and the impact of climate change.

He said New Zealand would also continue its support to the Pacific for more protection from the COVID-19 virus.

“New Zealand wants to make sure that the rest of the Pacific region have high vaccination rates,” he said.

“As we open our borders, we have been talking to the Pacific region to make sure that we can support them in whatever way we can to live with the virus.

“I think we are all working together now to get our economic engine rolling again.” he said.

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