Pacific Diplomacy Training advances regional foreign service

Fiji🇫🇯 joins the neighboring Pacific Island nations this week in Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 for the 3-week Pacific Diplomatic Training facilitated through Manaaki New Zealand Thematic Short Term Training Scholarship (TSTTS) in Wellington from 17 November – 5 December 2025.

A team of 3 staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) – Mr David Tuitoga, Mr Ilisoni Tokalaulevu and Mr Goleanavanua Lesuma together with Ms Sophia Ravai from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) are part of the training -jointly supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT), through Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships delivered by Education New Zealand (ENZ) and Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional Scholarships and Wellington Uni-Professional Programmes Team.

The overarching goals of this training programme are to support sustainable economic development through strengthening enduring cooperation, economic and people-to-people ties between New Zealand and the participating nations. It strengthens capability of foreign service officers, advances regional networking between Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific Departments of Foreign Affairs and related agencies to improve policy development across a range of foreign policy issues of relevance to the Pacific.

Further, the training enhances awareness of geo-strategic issues in the Pacific, with ability to navigate and influence complex foreign policy environments, and builds knowledge on diplomatic engagements – with focus on bilateral, regional and multilateral negotiations. It enables personal and professional development of participants – and also provides an experience of Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific culture and values.

As the training progresses into first week, the MFAET acknowledges the coordinators of the Pacific Diplomatic Training for their unwavering commitment and support and also extends best wishes to all the participants. As part of the training, participants will also have the opportunity to undertake 2 week in-Pacific component.

Since its introduction in 2023, the Pacific Diplomatic Training has continued to strengthen Pacific’s foreign service, and demonstrates the strong collaboration and bonds of friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific nations.