Pacific unrest brings NZ and Australia closer on defence

Recent disturbances in the Pacific, from the Solomons to East Timor, has led to New Zealand and Australia pledging continued close co-operation on defence.

Defence Minister Phil Goff and his Canberra counterpart, Dr Brendan Nelson, met in Queenstown yesterday, while Foreign Minister Winston Peters has attended a service in the Solomon Islands to remember two Australians killed during the Rasmi security mission there.

Mr Goff said after yesterday's meeting: "Recent developments in East Timor, Bougainville, and Fiji emphasised the importance of the two countries working together with their Pacific neighbours to achieve security and stability in the region."

He said that following unrest in the Solomon Islands, the rapid combined military and police response emphasised both countries' commitment to the region.

Mr Goff later added that New Zealand and Australia had the same responses planned for each of Timor Leste, the Solomons and Fiji, should trouble flare.

However, he believed Fiji and the Solomons had both stabilised.

Mr Peters and his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, were both in the Solomons and would report to their governments upon their return.

"If the situation appears to be stabilising there, then that would enable us to consider (bringing home) the additional defence force personnel and the police personnel that we've sent up to the Solomons," Mr Goff said.

Mr Peters laid a wreath in Honiara in memory of the two young men who died last month at a service attended by Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island police officers serving with Ramsi.

He is there to meet the new Solomons Prime Minister, and discuss the future of the mission.

Mr Goff said Australia was happy with its relationship with New Zealand.

"They are very happy with the relationship that exists, they are very happy with New Zealand's efforts in the Solomon Islands and in Afghanistan, they are very happy with the modernisation that is occurring in the New Zealand armed forces," he said.

"So my view is that the current relationship is in a very good state, we had useful discussions about how we act together and the commitment to doing that, and no suggestion of any criticism of New Zealand's position."

Mr Goff and Dr Nelson also discussed global security, including the importance of both countries to rebuilding Afghanistan.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB