UN General Assembly
2007

A strong, prosperous and stable Pacific is a key foreign policy priority for New Zealand. We place a high priority on fostering solidarity and cooperation in the Pacific to tackle the challenges the region faces in democracy, security and economic development. Around half of New Zealand’s development assistance goes towards the Pacific. New Zealand provides assistance in the region in Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, with each situation calling for a different response. The Timorese people, their leaders and the international community have all made a huge effort over the past year to return Timor-Leste to a more secure and stable path. New Zealand has participated in those efforts through our contributions to the International Security Forces and to the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). Timor- Leste will require a sustained commitment from UNMIT. The situation in Fiji continues to be of concern to New Zealand. As a neighbour of Fiji with a long- standing and very close relationship, New Zealand worked hard to avert last December’s coup, including