The European Union is to send a trio of VIPs to New Zealand in the coming months, seeking to revive links at a time of uncertainty in the world economy, diplomats in Brussels say.
First up is Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, who will be accompanied by the commissioner for climate action, Connie Hedegaard.
They will attend the 40th-anniversary meeting of the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland from September 7-9.
In October, the EU's foreign affairs representative, Catherine Ashton, is also expected to visit after the Commonwealth summit in Australia.
