Speaker reinforces NZ's commitment to the Fiji Parliament   5 May 2015

Speaker reinforces New Zealand's commitment to the Fiji Parliament

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon David Carter, will lead a delegation from the New Zealand Parliament next week to reinforce our commitment to the Parliament of Fiji. Accompanying the Speaker will be the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Chair Mark Mitchell MP; Committee member Hon Phil Goff MP; and the Clerk of the House, Mary Harris.

The Speaker will be reciprocating and building on the recent visit to New Zealand of the Fijian Speaker, Hon Dr Jiko Fatefehi Luveni. Following a very successful visit, Dr Luveni extended the invitation for the Speaker to come to Fiji. This visit will enable the Speaker and his delegation both to see first-hand progress that has been made in restoring Fiji’s parliamentary democracy, and to assess the need for any additional support and assistance to the Parliament of Fiji and its members.

Rt Hon David Carter said “this delegation will continue the rebuilding of our relationship with an important regional ally and friend. Following Dr Luveni’s visit to New Zealand, it is clear that while progress in Fiji has been rapid in terms of its return to a functioning parliament, there is much that New Zealand can do to support and assist this process to ensure that the momentum continues sustainably.”

The Speaker will be joined by two members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee to enable the Committee to gain a better understanding of Fiji’s progress, and to also allow the New Zealand parliamentarians to re-establish relationships with their Fijian colleagues. Meetings will be held with committee chairs and members to give them access and insight into the New Zealand Parliament’s committee system.

“Both Mr Mitchell and Mr Goff represent a repository of parliamentary knowledge and experience, particularly on the role and responsibility of committees, and in Mr Goff’s case the role of the opposition, in terms of holding governments to account.”, said the Speaker. “In addition to the members’ contribution, Ms Harris and myself will be on hand to offer our experience and assistance to Speaker Luveni and her officials after observing a typical business day in the Fiji Parliament, including Questions in the House, and hopefully a meeting of the Business Committee. This is the type of support - the passing on of institutional knowledge to the Fiji Parliament in these early days - that the New Zealand Parliament is well placed and pleased to offer.”

The delegation is also scheduled to have calls with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Speaker will lead the delegation to Fiji from 10 to 13 May.

ENDS

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