Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | Monday, 24 March 2025: Prime Minister Hon. James Marape is departing tomorrow, Tuesday 25 March 2025, for New Zealand on a three-day State visit that will include bilateral meetings with the country’s leadership, meetings with the business community, and a stop-over to see Papua New Guineans on the NZ-PNG labour mobility program, called the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
The Prime Minister departs early tomorrow from Port Moresby for capital city, Wellington, with his wife, Mrs Rachael Marape, and official delegation where he will meet with New Zealand Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Christopher Luxon in the evening of Tuesday, 25 March 2025.
Prime Minister Marape will also meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters and will pay a courtesy call on the Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. Chris Hipkins on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. The ‘Guest of Government’ visit is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and to sign the refreshed Papua New Guinea – New Zealand Statement of Partnership for 2025 – 2029.
The visit reflects the two nations’ shared domestic priorities on economic growth, attracting foreign direct investment, strengthening engagement in the Indo Pacific, and improving the efficiency of the countries’ respective public services. Prime Minister Marape said today upon his departure, “I am greatly pleased to say that PNG continues to honour our relationships with all our Pacific brothers, including New Zealand; and to see them do the same for PNG.
“New Zealand is important to us for many reasons. New Zealand is our brother in the Pacific family of nations – the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand is also a brother in the bigger Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation family, and we value New Zealand for the contributions it continues to make in the Bougainville peace process.
“I will be conveying our gratitude to Prime Minister Luxon in person, and discuss ways to further entrench our relationship, especially in trade and investment, agriculture, fisheries, education and security,” said PM Marape.
On the margins of the official program, Prime Minister Marape will also visit Hortus Ltd facilities in Blenheim for a ‘meet and greet’ with the PNG Recognized Seasonal Worker (RSE) employees on Wednesday, 26 March 2025. Meetings are also penciled in on Thursday, 27 March 2025 for the Prime Minister with executives of Waikato University, PNG student leaders, the PNG diaspora community in New Zealand, and with the Council of International Development.
Following engagements in Hamilton, the Prime Minister is expected to depart for Auckland for a meeting with the New Zealand – PNG Business Council on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025. PM Marape and his delegation depart Auckland for Port Moresby on Friday, 28 March 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso will be Acting Prime Minister while PM Marape is in New Zealand.