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The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sir Terepai Maoate is visiting New Zealand with a small delegation to meet with his counterpart Dr Michael Cullen in Wellington.
Justice Minister Tangata Vavia is also travelling with the delegation.
Sir Terepai and Cullen will discuss major infrastructure development in Rarotonga and the Outer Islands with the key aim for a packaged approach in funding rather than the piecemeal way that has been the trend in the past years.
Sir Terepai will seek for funding or soft loans for projects.
There will also be discussions involving the possibility of a NZ - Cook Islands project partnership to complete major multi-million dollar infrastructure development according to the Cook Islands National Development Plan and Preventative Infrastruacture Marster Plan.
Sir Terepai will aslo meet with with the Australian, French and Chinese Ambassadors to NZ for talks on project funding.
According to a press release from the DPM office, discussion with the French Embassy will look at the possibility of a joint venture partnership between France and NZ to upgrade the Penrhyn airstrip.
The airport upgrade would allow greater development of tourism and the fishing industry and a landing base for air surveillance aircrafts.
The DPM and delegation will be in NZ from August 18 -26.
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