NZ Accelerates Pacific Innovation Partnerships as Foreign Minister Visits Kiribati and Palau

“New Zealand and Palau are working closely on the critical regional issues facing the Pacific,” Mr Peters said.

New Zealand is stepping up its Pacific innovation diplomacy as Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Kiribati and Palau, signalling a renewed push to co-develop technology-driven solutions for resilience, sustainability, and regional security across the Pacific.

The visit marks the first time since 2019 that a New Zealand Foreign Minister has travelled to Kiribati—and completes a historic milestone: Mr Peters will have visited all 18 Pacific Islands Forum member countries within a single term, a first for any New Zealand Foreign Minister.

“This is about more than diplomacy,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand is a steadfast partner with Kiribati, and we are committed to working together on forward-looking solutions that strengthen resilience, prosperity, and security in the Pacific.”

For technology leaders and innovators, the visit underscores growing opportunities to collaborate on climate adaptation technologies, digital connectivity, maritime surveillance, and data-driven governance—areas where Pacific nations are rapidly emerging as real-world testbeds for scalable innovation.

Spotlight on Palau: A Living Lab for Marine and Climate Tech

The visit to Palau places particular emphasis on marine innovation and sustainable resource management, fields where Palau is widely recognised as a global leader. Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum this year, followed by New Zealand in 2027, creating a two-year runway for coordinated regional initiatives.

“New Zealand and Palau are working closely on the critical regional issues facing the Pacific,” Mr Peters said. “We look forward to deepening our engagement with Palau, especially as it continues to lead globally on marine resource management.”

For tech companies working in ocean data platforms, AI-enabled conservation tools, satellite monitoring, and climate analytics, Palau’s approach offers a model for how innovation and policy can move together at speed.

This will be Mr Peters’ second visit to Palau, following a Ministerial delegation in August 2024, reinforcing continuity and long-term collaboration.

Why This Matters for Tech Innovators

As Pacific nations face urgent climate, infrastructure, and connectivity challenges, New Zealand is positioning itself as a bridge between Pacific priorities and global innovation ecosystems. The Foreign Minister’s visit signals a clear invitation for early adopters—startups, scale-ups, and research partners—to engage in co-development rather than one-way deployment.

Call to Action:Technology companies, research institutions, and impact investors interested in piloting solutions in climate resilience, marine technology, digital governance, and sustainable infrastructure are encouraged to explore partnerships aligned with New Zealand’s Pacific engagement agenda ahead of the 2025–2027 Pacific Islands Forum cycle.

Mr Peters departs on Sunday, 18 January, and returns on Thursday, 22 January.