New Zealand offers support for Small Island Developing States conference

The New Zealand government said Tuesday it was committed to supporting neighboring Samoa as the Pacific island nation prepares to host the United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference later this year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the third UN SIDS conference in September would be an opportunity for small island developing states to work with UN member states to address development and climate change issues.

McCully made the announcement while welcoming the launch of the UN International Year of Small Island Developing States, which aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by small island developing states.

"New Zealand stands ready to support Samoa as it prepares to host one of the biggest conferences on the UN calendar," McCully said in a statement.

"Many of our closest neighbors in the Pacific are small island developing states and New Zealand has a good understanding of the challenges they face," he said.