New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand PM Ardern will visit Fiji next week

It will be the first time a New Zealand Prime Minister has visited Fiji in four years and comes during the 50th anniversary of Fiji's independence.

Ms Ardern says Fiji is New Zealand's largest trading partner in the Pacific, visited by 200,000 New Zealand tourists a year.

She will visit Suva, Nadi and Lautoka on her three day trip, which will focus on climate change, supporting women and strengthening democracy.

NZ commits a further $10m to Gita-hit Tonga

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement after meeting with Tongan Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva in the capital Nuku'alofa this morning.

New Zealand has so far contributed $2 million of emergency relief to three Pacific countries hit by the cyclone - Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, $750,000 of which went to Tonga.

Ms Ardern arrived at the meeting in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa with Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Mr Pōhiva was flanked by his Finance Minister, Energy Minister, Health Minister, and Agriculture Minister.

PM's Pacific Island trip becomes a family reunion

The Prime Minister arrived in Niue as part of her week-long trip around the Pacific Islands and was greeted by her parents, sister and niece today.

Ms Ardern's father, Ross Ardern, is New Zealand's High Commissioner in the country and served as Police Commissioner since 2003.

During her traditional welcome, Ms Ardern was asked the purpose of her trip here.

"I replied - at least I believed I replied in Niuean - that I come in peace. If I could've added 'I also come in joy', I would've," she said.

NZ PM to visit Tonga as part of Pacific tour

“It will be an honour to have the Pacific Mission led by the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and is a further sign of the importance New Zealand attaches to our Pacific neighbours,” says Peters.

“The government carefully considered whether the Pacific Mission would impose a burden on Tonga and Samoa in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Gita.”