Japan's Foreign Minister has recently visited New Zealand and raised concerns about high levels of debt in Pacific Island nations.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the two countries are teaming up to ensure Pacific aid development is more efficient and less hampered by bureaucracy.
Dr Anna Powles is a senior lecturer in Security Studies at Massey University, and she spoke with Jenny Meyer about how she sees the closer link between the two countries and what it might mean for the Pacific.
The foreign ministers of Japan and New Zealand, Taro Kono and Winston Peters Photo: RNZ
