NZ Invests $13.3m to Boost Aviation Security Across Pacific Region

According to Peters, the new package reflects New Zealand’s recognition of evolving security risks and its responsibility as a key regional partner.

New Zealand has announced a major new investment aimed at strengthening aviation security across the Pacific, committing $13.3 million over five years to enhance airport screening systems and improve regional compliance with international aviation safety standards.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the funding will support the installation of new x-ray and scanning machines, alongside training and technical assistance, at 11 Pacific airports. The initiative expands on New Zealand’s long-standing airport security equipment programme, which has already contributed to upgraded screening systems in several Pacific nations.

According to Peters, the new package reflects New Zealand’s recognition of evolving security risks and its responsibility as a key regional partner.

“This investment will benefit the Pacific by improving transport security, helping Pacific states comply with international aviation standards, and making air travel safer and more secure for all travellers in the Pacific,” he said. “New Zealand is strongly committed to addressing the risks of trans-national crime and other security threats in the region.”

The airports involved in the programme span a wide geographic area and include facilities in Niue, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Many of these airports serve as critical transport lifelines for small island nations, where reliable aviation infrastructure directly supports tourism, medical evacuations, disaster responses, and economic connectivity.

Associate Minister for Transport James Meager, who oversees the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), highlighted that the programme will be delivered collaboratively with Pacific aviation regulators and airport authorities. New Zealand’s CAA will lead the technical implementation, workforce training, and long-term capability support.

“This initiative reflects New Zealand’s commitment to safe, secure regional aviation, ensuring that Pacific communities remain connected through strengthened aviation security and infrastructure,” Meager said.

The investment is part of New Zealand’s broader strategic priorities in the Pacific, reinforcing stability, resilience, and cooperative security as trans-national criminal networks, trafficking risks, and geopolitical competition continue to evolve in the region.