The Oceania Football Confederation president Reynald Temarii, who is also FIFA's vice president, has welcomed New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark into the football family.
This follows the PM's appointment as Honorary President for next year's inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand.
Mr Temarii praised Miss Clark for her work as a leader on the Pacific Island Forum, a community of 16 nations that use sport as a vehicle to promote economic, social and cultural development in the Pacific.
Temarii urged the Pacific Island Forum to continue their work in tandem with the Win in Oceania programme which is using football to tackle health and education issues in the Pacific.
