New Zealand's Defence Minister says Papua New Guinea's capacity to respond to its earthquake disaster in the Highlands is being seriously stretched.
Ron Mark has just been in PNG to sign a bilateral Status of Forces Agreement covering training co-operation and provision of security at the APEC leaders summit in PNG later this year.
Mr Mark says the magnitude 7.5 quake two weeks ago, from which the death toll has passed 110, has diverted PNG's attention from APEC preparations.
The New Zealand Defence Force has been helping PNG in the relief response.
The minister told Johnny Blades that PNG shares a deep relationship with the NZDF and highly values the people-to-people links it has with New Zealand.
Ron Mark Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
