I will lead a short four-day trade mission to New Zealand and the Pacific to meet with senior NZ Government Ministers, the new Wellington Mayor, and progress direct aviation links between Canberra and Auckland and Canberra and Nadi.
The ACT Government has a clear ambition to connect Canberra and the region with places, markets and sectors where we have common interests and this mission will also continue our work delivering on the objectives in our International Engagement Strategy and fostering our strong productive relationship with our sister city Wellington.
The trade mission, departing this morning, will include time in Wellington, Auckland, and Nadi.
In New Zealand, I will hold meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Grant Robertson, NZ Transport Minister Michael Wood, Mayor Tory Whanau, the new mayor of Wellington, and John Allen, CEO of WellingtonNZ, to continue to foster the successful relationship we have with Wellington as part of the Sister City Agreement. I will tour the new Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre and meet with senior representatives from Auckland Airport and Air New Zealand. The day in Fiji will include meetings with Fiji Airways CEO and Nadi International Airport.
Canberra Airport management will join the delegation in Auckland and Nadi.
The cost of the Chief Minister's Delegation is approximately $18,000. This is met from the ACT Executive 2022-23 budget. The final cost will be released as part of the regular travel reports.
