Pacific

Jacinda Ardern in Samoa and soon to visit Tokelau

21:54 pm on 27 July 2019

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to Samoa and the New Zealand territory of Tokelau is under way.

Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

The trip is part of the government's Pacific Reset strategy, and is the first trip to Tokelau by a prime minister since Helen Clark in 2004.

Jacinda Ardern met with local leaders in Samoa today, and first thing tomorrow she will board the HMNZS Otago patrol ship for the trip to Tokelau, which has no airport.

There she will meet with taupulega (village councils) and fatupaepae (women's committees).

Ms Ardern said she wanted to continue working with Tokelau to improve the territory's quality of life and combat the threat of climate change.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit Nukunonu atoll, the capital of Tokelau. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

She says Tokelauns who are New Zealand citizens share a deep and warm relationship with New Zealand.

Kris Faafoi, New Zealand's first cabinet minister of Tokelauan descent is also taking part in the visit.