5. Question No. 5—Foreign AffairsDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 5—Foreign Affairs5. DAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What support has the Government given to Vanuatu following Cyclone Judy and Cyclone Kevin?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): In response to requests from Vanuatu we deployed a C-130 aircraft on Sunday carrying relief supplies and a team of seven personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help with damage assessments and inform a necessary response. The second C-130 flight left Whenuapai on Tuesday with further urgently needed relief supplies in the form of shelter tool kits mother and infant kits family hygiene kits and agricultural kits. A third flight is due to leave today. In addition to relief supplies it will also carry personnel and communications equipment from the New Zealand Red Cross. New Zealand has also made available $150000 to rapidly support Vanuatu's response and that will be delivered through the New Zealand High Commission in Port Vila. We are also supporting NGO partner Adventist Development and Relief Agency to release humanitarian supplies that have been funded by our Government to the value of $340000. We're working closely with the Government of Vanuatu and our FRANZ humanitarian partners—Australia and France—to coordinate support. Any New Zealand assistance will not draw resources away from the Government's domestic response efforts to Cyclone Gabrielle.Dan Rosewarne: What information will Aotearoa New Zealand consider to assess its next contribution?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: We'll consider the needs assessment based on aerial and on-the-ground assessments of the personnel that we have sent alongside Australia and France and then we will consider the requests of the Government of Vanuatu coordinate our efforts with Australia and France and then respond accordingly.Dan Rosewarne: What coordination is currently in place to ensure that relief efforts and a recovery response is not duplicated as well as coordinated and aligned to other international partners?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: All relief activity is coordinated through the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (VNDMO). The New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu has a longstanding relationship with the VNDMO. FRANZ partners are coordinating closely on the ground and between capitals. Daily calls and meetings ensure the most efficient use of military and civilian assets appropriate provision of supplies and close coordination with the Government of Vanuatu. The FRANZ partnership has operated for over 13 years and we continue to coordinate our activities like that for Vanuatu.Dan Rosewarne: Given the likelihood of more regular significant weather events and storms impacting on livelihoods in places such as Vanuatu and the Pacific what steps is Aotearoa New Zealand taking to support the resilience of the Pacific?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: In October 2021 Aotearoa New Zealand announced its international climate finance commitment of $1.3 billion for the 2022-25 period. At least 50 percent of the commitment will support Pacific Island countries and at least 50 percent will target adaptation and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. The International Climate Finance Strategy Tuia te Waka a Kiwa will guide the delivery of this commitment. Initiatives supported with this finance include early warning systems disaster insurance and efforts to improve water and food security in the face of climate change. New Zealand is supporting national disaster management officers and other first responders to strengthen their disaster preparedness and response capabilities.