Financial support to help shore up Vanuatu against climate change

The New Zealand Government is giving ​Vanuatu more funding for the construction of climate-resilient wharves.

It is allocating $10 million to projects including the Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Support Project.

Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Aupito William Sio has traveled to Vanuatu to talanoa with the newly elected government led by Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau.

Sio has also been visiting the Aotearoa-contributing development projects while also discussing how the new money will be spent.

“Aotearoa New Zealand and Vanuatu share a close partnership and friendship, and after the disruption caused by COVID-19, this is an opportunity to reconnect, kanohi ki te kanohi,” Aupito William says.

Sio made the $10 million announcement in Port Vila while attending the Pacific Community Ministerial Conference.

Aotearoa has been a co-financer of the Vanuatu Inter-Island Shipping Support Project since 2012 and Sio says the Government, alongside the Asian Development Bank, will proudly continue that relationship.

“Through the project, VISSP has completed two wharves, helped establish the Vanuatu Office of the Maritime Regulator, introduced reforms to strengthen maritime safety oversight capacity, and developed a shipping subsidy scheme to improve services to non-commercial destinations.

“With New Zealand’s support, a redesign for the South Paray Wharf in Port Vila has also been completed, and work on South Paray and two other wharves is now progressing.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Nanaia Mahuta says helping establish reliable and regular shipping services is vital to the economic prosperity, livelihoods, and well-being of the people of Vanuatu.

“This work will improve inter-island connectivity, support greater access to health services, educational opportunities, and markets for ni-Vanuatu living in rural and remote parts of the country.

Mahuta says the announcement underlines Aotearoa’s commitment to Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa, the Blue Pacific Continent, and efforts to achieve a prosperous, safer, and stronger Pacific region.

Strengthening climate resilience and helping economic recovery through financial aid has been a major discussion topic across the Pacific.

Mahuta says Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to supporting the economic recovery of the Pacific region in ways that are sustainable for Pacific nations.

“New Zealand is a country in and of the Pacific. What is good for the Pacific is good for us because we know the economic and climate impacts that affect our Pacific neighbourhood, also have a direct impact on us here at home.”

Sio took some congratulatory words via video recording from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the new PM of Vanuatu, Alatoi Kalsakau

In her video, Ardern says, “My warmest congratulations to you Prime Minister, I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to catch up in person.

“I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the leadership Vanuatu is showing on climate change… and how much I look forward to continuing to work with you on that issue - a challenge for us all.”