New Zealand foreign minister to attend UN as prime minister campaigns at home.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will stay home to campaign for the Oct. 14 election while New Zealand’s foreign minister travels to Washington for Pacific regional issues and the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

In New Zealand, the election campaign is well underway as the center-right National Party and their alliance appear poised to unseat the incumbent Labour government, which is lagging in the polls.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she would attend several bilateral and international meetings and represent Hipkins at the United Nations presidents’ meetings beginning this week.

While visiting the United States, Mahuta remarked, “I’m looking forward to delivering the National Statement on behalf of New Zealand and reaffirming our close relationships with friends and key partners.”

She said she would travel to Washington, DC, to discuss Pacific regional challenges and US involvement.

For a second summit with the United States, Pacific Island nations are anticipated to meet with President Joe Biden the following week. A year ago, Biden held the inaugural meeting of the 14 Pacific island nations when his government committed to fending against China’s “economic coercion” and working harder with partners and friends to meet islanders’ needs.

Mahuta stated, “I anticipate fruitful meetings in Washington, DC, to think about how the United States might help achieve Pacific interests.