7 Jul 2005

French Polynesian president to visit New Zealand

4:17 pm on 7 July 2005

French Polynesia's president is to make his first official visit to New Zealand this month, just days after New Caledonia's president, Marie-Noelle Themereau, made her first official visit to Wellington.

Mr Temaru was due to visit last year and to address the New Zealand parliament but he lost power in a vote of no confidence in October before regaining power this year after another such vote.

Among his engagements, Mr Temaru is to give an address at a meeting organised by the Pacific Co-operation Foundation on July 19th on French Polynesia's engagement with New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.

Mr Temaru was in New Zealand in a private capacity twice this year.