PM’s travel to advance NZ’s economic interests

Te Whanganui-a-Tara - Prime minister Chris Hipkins will undertake a small number of international engagements this year, focused on advancing New Zealand’s trade and economic interests.

He will travel with a trade delegation to Australia this weekend to mark 40 years of closer economic relations (CER).

The prime minister will a travel to the United Kingdom to attend the coronation of King Charles III in May.

He will be joined by a delegation of prominent Kiwis and community representatives who will represent the country at the Coronation.

He has also accepted an invitation to attend the NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius Lithuania in July.

The government is continuing to pursue a trade focused trip to China later in the year.

The Prime Minister will attend the coronation service of King Charles III in London on May 6 along with the governor-general, the high commissioner to the United Kingdom, senior royal honours holders, iwi leaders and community representatives. In recognition that it is an election year, the Prime Minister has also invited the Leader of the Opposition to attend.

The members of the New Zealand delegation are:

•            Governor-general Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Richard Davies

•            Prime minister Chris Hipkins

•            New Zealand high commissioner to the United Kingdom Phil Goff

•            Leader of the opposition Christopher Luxon

•            Richie McCaw – Order of New Zealand representative

•            Willie Apiata – Victoria cross for New Zealand representative

•            Abdul Aziz – New Zealand cross representative

•            Kiingi Tuheitia and Makau Ariki Atawhai

•            Dame Naida Glavish and Lorraine Toki

•            Ben Appleton – kaiāwhina and director of Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club

•            Sarah Smart – UK general manager The Dairy Collective (UK based)

•            Craig Fenton – 2023 UK New Zealander of the year

•            Rebecca Scown – Former Olympic Rower and ceo of Youth Experience in Sport

•            Rhieve Grey – graduate student and 2021 Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University

•            Sergeant Hayden Smith – Flag bearer selected by the New Zealand Defence Force

The Prime Minister has also announced a range of events and activities in New Zealand to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort.

“I am pleased to announce a donation of $1 million to Trees That Count as New Zealand’s gift to mark the coronation,” Chris Hipkins says.

On the weekend of May 6 and 7, local councils across New Zealand will plant native trees as part of He Rā Rākau Tītapu – King Charles III coronation plantings.  

Other ways to mark the coronation will include:

•            The illumination of a number of buildings across New Zealand with purple lights overnight on May 6

•            A gun salute by the New Zealand Defence Force in Wellington on May 7

•            The renaming of the next New Zealand royal honours list to the king’s birthday and coronation honours list 2023

•            NZ Post’s issue of commemorative stamps and coins, from May 3.