Winston Peters to Pacific nations: 'Face your debts'ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Foreign Minister Winston Peters says for the sake of regional security, New Zealand can't afford not to bolster its spending in the Pacific. But Peters said Pacific nations needed to step up when it came to facing their debt burdens. JASON OXENHAM/AP Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters: "Our eyes are wide open to the fact that we cannot take our influence in the Pacific for granted." During the lead up to September's Pacific Islands Forum, Tonga Prime Minister Akalisi Pohiva called on China to forgive his country's debts, lobbying other Pacific nations to do the same. This had created challenges and choices Pacific nations did not have to manage, even just a few years ago.

Source: Stuff September 21, 2018 12:00 UTC