Winston Peters regrets publicity surrounding cancelled Kiribati visit

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister regrets the publicity surrounding his cancelled diplomatic meeting in Kiribati but insists they made strong efforts to ensure it took place.

Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters’ visit to Kiribati early last week was cancelled due to the unavailability of the island nation’s President and Foreign Minister, Taneti Maamau.

Peters was set to make his first visit as a NZ Minister in over five years, part of his overarching goal of visiting every Pacific country early in the Coalition Government’s term.

He has expressed disappointment over the cancellation, followed by the announcement that NZ would review its $102 million programme with Kiribati due to a lack of high-level engagement with the Pacific island nation.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Peters said it was “regrettable” how public the affair had gotten, adding that New Zealand made multiple attempts to organise a visit only to have it cancelled.

“I began to be concerned that they didn't understand our responsibilities back in New Zealand,” he said.

“Don't forget, we work for people who are paying taxes.

“Sometimes they are Pacific people working two or three jobs.”

Watch Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters’ full interview below.

A responsible neighbour’ to a ‘mysterious nation’?

Peters said multi- and cross-party tours across the Pacific were vital for parliament to understand their needs so that NZ can, in turn, “be a responsible neighbour” and be held accountable to those in Aotearoa.

“We can't do that unless we get a chance to talk and see on the ground what's going on. And the last cancellation, the excuse was given that it was because of another event arranged beforehand.

“Well, that event was nine days before we were getting on the plane, and so in the end, we had to say we're going to review what's going on here.

“We've spent $102 million over the last three years, and the New Zealand taxpayers deserve better than that.”

PMN’s Political Reporter Ala Vailala said this potential fallout is concerning, considering the outcome of NZ’s review could mean Kiribati loses millions of dollars in aid, possibly impacting immigration policies between the two.

Taneti Maamai, left, and Winston Peters. Photo /RNZ.

“Then again, it begs the question that when these things happen, it creates a window for other nations like China to step in and fill in those gaps,” she said.

However, Vailala pointed out how determined Peters has been in building bridges with island nations as far back as last year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Tonga and that he had aimed to have Kiribati as the first Pacific country he would visit.

“This also highlights the importance he sees in the Pacific region,” she said.

“Kiribati does have a track record for being this mysterious island nation when it comes to politics - we saw last year when they announced the closure of the borders to diplomats.

“Another thing is the Australian Deputy Prime Minister was [at Kiribati] a few weeks ago, and he only met with Vice-President [Teuea Toatu].”

Watch ‘Ala Vailala’s full political roundup via 531pi’s FB page.

Eager for a ‘serious conversation’

Peters said he spoke to Maamau over the phone and "made it clear" that New Zealand’s review was not a threat.

He added that their meeting was vital in arguing for continued financial support of foreign nations amid “a very strained economic circumstance”.

“I made it very clear to him and to every other Pacific nation, we are wanting to help, but we have to be accountable to New Zealand people to ensure the money we give over gets to the place assigned to it.

“That's the least we've got to do, so it's not a matter of pulling the plug, pulling one's weight or threatening anyone.”

Peters remained eager for a “serious conversation”, saying Aotearoa has done its best when he’s been at the helm of Foreign Minister - three times over 19 years - in which he claimed to have increased assistance to the Pacific “big time”.

“And there's only one previous government that goes way back to [Norman Kirk], 1972 to 1975, where they did anything better.

“We've set a record here, not because we want to waste New Zealand's money, but because this is the Blue Continent, it's our backyard.”