Quoting Radio New Zealand today, Sunday, 29 May 2021
The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has touched down in Queenstown, saying extending the trans-Tasman bubble into the Pacific is a "real possibility".
He's arrived in New Zealand for the the annual trans-Tasman talks, one of Jacinda Ardern's first face to face leaders' meetings since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
The last time the pair met was in Sydney last year - when she was informed New Zealand had its first case of Covid-19, at the "advent of the pandemic", said Morrison.
"And here we are, two countries, some 18 months later that have weathered the Covid, arguably better than any other two countries in the world."
The trans-Tasman bubble will be on the agenda, with Morrison telling reporters "the idea of a bubble that goes beyond New Zealand and Australia is a real possibility".
"Fiji is is going through a difficult time at the moment and we're supporting them to come through that, but whether it's Vanuatu, or the Solomon Islands or Fiji or Tonga, or any of these places, and even supporting up in Timor Leste.
"Now, these are real challenges to overcome, but when it comes to people coming to work in Australia, the seasonal workers programme...or the broader partnership that we have across the Pacific for other purposes - this is why we get together every year."
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Yours sincerely
Frank Short
