New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Kiribati President Taneti Maamau meet on the sidelines of PIFLM54.
Photo: RNZ/ Giles Dexter
Kiribati President Taneti Maamau says it was not fair that New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters made a fuss about not being able to meet him earlier this year.
Maamau, who is also the Kiribati Foreign Minister, is in Honiara attending the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, where New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are also in attendance.
Maamau said Peters would still be welcome to visit the Micronesian island nation.
“It’s up to him. But so far, he has made noise that we don’t want to meet him. That’s not fair. If he wishes to come, he’s welcome”.
In January, Peters confirmed that New Zealand was reviewing its development programmes – worth $102 million between 2021 and 2024 – to Kiribati due to the “lack of political-level contact”.
“The lack of political-level contact makes it very difficult for us to agree joint priorities for our development programme, and to ensure that it is well targeted and delivers good value for money. That’s important for both the people of Kiribati and for the New Zealand taxpayer,” a spokesperson for Peters said at the time.
The announcement triggered a tit-for-tat exchange between Kiribati and New Zealand, with each nation blaming the other for the diplomatic fallout over the visit. One Pacific commentator said Peters needed to be “a bit more humble” regarding the situation.
The aid review has since concluded, and development programmes still being implemented have not been financially affected.
However, speaking to RNZ Pacific for the first time since the review, Maamau said the proposed dates did not work, pointing out that some were close to the October 2024 Kiribati presidential elections.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Pacific leaders at Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting. 11 September 2025.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Caleb Fotheringham
On Wednesday night, Maamau met with Luxon for a bilateral meeting.
“It was a good chance for us to catch up and talk about the relationship and how we go forward,” Luxon told reporters on Thursday.
“We’ve obviously got some things still with our officials to work through, and we’re committed [to] continue that work from here on.”
Asked if the aid to Kiribati remains suspended, Luxon said, “Our officials will work that through in the next few weeks, with a view that there might be an opportunity for Peters to catch up with President Maamau in New York.”
He added that he is not aware of Peters’ travel plans for Kiribati “just yet”, but is was meeting Maamau face-to-face was an opportunity to understand what is going on in Kiribati and the challenges the Kiribati leader is dealing with.