The New Zealand foreign minister, Phil Goff, is pushing for a closer relationship between New Zealand and France's Pacific territories.
Mr Goff is leading a delegation of 75 MPs and businesspeople to promote trade in the Pacific.
He says he's invited New Caledonia's president, Marie-Noelle Themereau, to New Zealand later this year, and discussions between the two governments will be underway before that.
"We look forward to greater co-operation in areas such as fisheries and maritime surveillance and there will shortly be a delegation from New Caledonia to New Zealand within the next fortnight to have discussions in those areas."
Phil Goff
