Visit to New Zealand
Today I am in Auckland to continue the Government's close engagement with New Zealand on regional and global security challenges and opportunities.
New Zealand Foreign Minister McCully and I will participate in the 10th Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, also attended by our two Prime Ministers, to discuss matters of mutual interest for Australia and New Zealand in the Asia Pacific region.
The Leadership Forum brings together key Australian and New Zealand government, business and community leaders as a means to further strengthen our bilateral relationship. I will be discussing the free flow of goods, services, capital, knowledge and people between our two countries.
As part of this visit I will also discuss our shared interests in the United Nations Security Council, after New Zealand commenced its term on the Council on 1 January 2015.
While in Auckland, I will hold a roundtable with Auckland University and New Zealand government and business representatives to promote Pacific economic development and women's economic empowerment in the region.