23 Apr 2014

New NZ diplomatic role a boost for the Pacific - McCully

3:55 pm on 23 April 2014

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand's new regional diplomatic job could change the fortunes of the Pacific.

He says he offered the ambassador-level role at the beginning of the year to the senior opposition MP Shane Jones who announced yesterday he would quit parliament.

Mr Jones says he is hammering out the details of the new role which Mr McCully says would entail making the most of opportunities from fisheries, agriculture and tourism.

"We're putting more money in. I want to put more money in yet. But money alone doesn't solve these problems. There's some diplomacy, some leadership, some advocacy that's required. I'm very excited by the possibility we might get someone of Shane Jones' experience, commercial skills and standing."

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully