PM reveals details of NZ visit by Morrison
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will travel to Queenstown to meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in two weeks’ time.
The visit will be the first faceto-face meeting between Ardern and and her Australian counterpart since New Zealand shut its borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Morrison last met with Ardern in Sydney in lateFebruary, last year, the day the first Covid-19 case was discovered in New Zealand.
Ardern, who announced the details of the long anticipated trip yesterday, said the Covid-19 recovery, regional and security issues would be discussed at the annual leaders’ meeting to be held on May 31.
Morrison will arrive in Queenstown on May 30, with his wife Jenny. Ardern will be joined by her fiance, Clarke Gayford.
‘‘Discussions will centre on how Australia and New Zealand will meet the shared challenges we face,’’ Ardern said in a statement. ‘‘The key focus of the meeting will of course be our Covid-19 recovery as well as how we continue working together on key regional and security issues.’’
Ardern and Morrison would meet Australian and New Zealand business, tourism and community
leaders during the trip, and lay a wreath at the Arrowtown War Memorial. The pair will also attend a Highlanders versus Rebels Super Rugby match in Queenstown, on May 30.
Morrison, in a statement, said the trip to New Zealand would be his first for this year.
‘‘It is fitting that our first trip should be across the Tasman. Australia and New Zealand are family – and we share deep historical bonds of friendship,’’ he said.
‘‘We have many challenges to discuss.
‘‘We are key partners in delivering Covid-19 vaccines to our Pacific neighbours, we share common goals and values for the Indo-Pacific region, and we are major trading partners.’’ shared