The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says next week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit is an opportunity for the region to come together and discuss joint concerns.
Mr Key will attend the meeting along with the leaders of most of the other Forum nations.
But the Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has made it clear he is not going.
Earlier this year Mr Bainimarama was critical of what he saw as the undue influence of New Zealand and Australia at the Forum.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
He said both countries had been found wanting in global efforts to curb emissions and they weren't in tune with the Pacific Islands like Fiji.
But Mr Key says as a Pacific nation, New Zealand is committed to working with its closest neighbours to build a more secure and prosperous region, and he says climate change will be on the agenda.
"The theme this year is strengthening connections to enhance Pacific regionalism, which is about encouraging a strategic focus to regional issues."
