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🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

New Zealand, Fiji renew five-year partnership

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • New Zealand and Fiji have renewed their five-year Duavata Partnership, covering 2026-2030.
  • The agreement aims to boost bilateral trade to NZ$2 billion by 2030 and deepen cooperation in security, development, and climate resilience.
  • Key areas of focus include policing, border security, renewable energy, and disaster preparedness.

New Zealand and Fiji have solidified their commitment to bilateral cooperation by signing a renewed five-year Duavata Partnership. The agreement, set to run from 2026 to 2030, outlines shared priorities across trade, security, democracy, social development, and climate resilience. This pact builds upon an earlier framework from 2022-2025 and reaffirms the shared ambition of both nations to significantly increase two-way trade, targeting NZ$2 billion by the year 2030.

The agreement renews an earlier 2022-2025 framework and reaffirms both countries' goal of lifting two-way trade to NZ$2 billion ($1.17 billion) by 2030. It also deepens cooperation on policing, border and maritime security, defence ties, renewable energy, disaster preparedness and support for the Pacific as an "Ocean of Peace," according to the joint statement and Peters' office.

— New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters' officeThe joint statement and Peters' office detailed the renewed partnership's goals, including trade targets and expanded cooperation areas.

Beyond economic ties, the partnership emphasizes a deepening of collaboration in critical security sectors. This includes expanded cooperation in community policing, immigration, customs, border security, and cybersecurity. Both nations also aim to enhance intelligence sharing, maritime security, and their joint capabilities in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. The agreement underscores a mutual goal of maintaining the Pacific region as an "Ocean of Peace."

On security, the statement calls for expanded cooperation in community policing, immigration, customs, border security, cybersecurity, intelligence sharing, maritime security and humanitarian and disaster relief.

— Joint statementThe joint statement specifically outlined the planned enhancements in security cooperation.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who met with his Fijian counterpart Sakiasi Ditoka in Auckland, highlighted discussions on New Zealand's interest in exploring an "Ocean of Peace Alliance" with Fiji and Australia. Ditoka is also scheduled to attend a trade and investment ministerial meeting hosted by New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay, indicating a broad agenda for strengthening diplomatic and economic relations.

Peters said the ministers also discussed New Zealand's interest in exploratory discussions with Fiji and Australia on the Ocean of Peace Alliance.

— Winston PetersNew Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters mentioned discussions about a potential 'Ocean of Peace Alliance'.
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Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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