Peters to visit Tonga, Samoa and Niue

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is to visit three Pacific countries next week.

Tonga is hosting this year's Pacific Forum and Mr Peters said he intended to visit about half of the Forum's 16 member countries before it was held.

"The relationship with Tonga, Samoa, Niue and other Pacific Island countries that share our neighbourhood are a special priority in New Zealand's foreign policy," Mr Peters said.

Mr Peters will visit Tonga, Samoa and Niue from March 12-18.

He will discuss processes for economic and political change in Tonga when he meets acting Prime Minister Fred Sevele, other members of government and civil society groups. He is also likely to meet Crown Prince Tupouto'a.

Reformers are seeking a ceremonial role for the monarchy in Tonga, where only about one-third of parliament is elected by the people and the government is appointed by the king.

Last month they claimed a victory when the king's unpopular youngest son Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata stepped down as prime minister in favour of an elected commoner -- an historic first in the Pacific island monarchy.

Mr Peters said he would meet Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and other political leaders in Samoa before heading to Niue.

Niue was devastated by a cyclone in January 2004 and Mr Peters said he would discuss reconstruction efforts with Premier Young Vivian.

Mr Peters would visit NZAID projects in all three countries.

Pacific Forum member countries are: Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

- NZPA