19 Oct 2012

NZ considers aiding Samoa tourism

4:06 pm on 19 October 2012

The New Zealand Government is looking at new aid spending on tourism infrastructure in Samoa as part of its increased support for that sector.

This was one of the discussion points at the sixth New Zealand/Samoa Joint Ministerial Consultations in Wellington this week.

The Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi met with New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully.

They agreed to explore new ways to make the Samoan Quota system operate more effectively.

The Ministers also discussed trades training opportunities for Pacific workers in New Zealand, including the possibility of Samoan tradespeople being involved in the rebuild of Christchurch.

They also discussed the preliminary work New Zealand is doing to support Samoa's shift to renewable energy generation.