An academic in New Zealand says the key message of the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's visit to the Pacific is for the US to re-engage with the region.
Mrs Clinton will this week visit Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia.
In Honululu, she will meet with her Japanese counterpart to discuss bilateral relations, which have been strained over US military bases in Okinawa.
In Papua New Guinea, she will hold bilateral talks and meet civil society leaders to discuss women's issues and environmental protection.
Victoria University's senior fellow for strategic studies, Terence O'Brien, says Mrs Clinton's visit is signalling a change in US foreign policy.
"The reasons for coming at this particular time are related to America's desire to be seen to be active in the Pacific, more active than recent administrations."
Terence O'Brien says aid is also set to be high on the agenda.
