New Zealand

Murray McCully was in the country last week, where he met with the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to discuss the two countries' relationship once the Regional Assistance Mission ends in July.

He said fisheries had been identified as an opportunity for significant economic and employment growth for the country, and New Zealand was sponsoring a number of projects.

"If you look at what the contribution has been at the Soltai Tuna Plant, the Tri Marine facility at Noro in the Western Province," Mr McCully said.

On social media Carter posted: "Just got back in New Zealand for what was supposed to be a fun pre planned holiday.

"Seeing the family again puts fresh perspective on just how big a mistake I made. #dontdrinkanddrive."

Carter made an apology on Facebook yesterday after being caught drink driving in Paris, saying he was glad no one was hurt.

The French newspaper L'Equipe reported Carter was stopped on Wednesday by police and had a blood alcohol concentration nearly twice the legal limit.

RNZ reports Mr English is meeting with his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Turnbull, in Queenstown today for their annual leaders' talks.

Mr Turnbull struck a deal with the former US President, Barack Obama, for America to resettle 1250 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru, but it is unclear whether the administration of new President Donald Trump will uphold the agreement.

Green Party co-leader James Shaw said there were two clear messages Mr English should be giving Mr Turnbull today.

He told Mr McCully crop farmers could export cassava, taro, yam, panna and kava.

At the moment the crops go mainly to the domestic market.

Mr Sogavare said New Zealand had a ready market with its large population of Pacific Islanders.

He pointed out that Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu were already able to export taro and kava to New Zealand.

Mr McCully said he will raise the request but said the bio-security arrangements between the two countries would need to be secured first.

On a visit to the autonomous Papua New Guinea region this week, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he wanted to see this country do more to boost work opportunities so more people can get gainful employment.

Mr McCully said ensuring security is critical and chances of employment are part of this.

He said New Zealand will continue to provide aid to the agriculture sector but he also wanted to see involvement in fishing, since Bougainville's tuna resource is largely untapped.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who is currently in Honiara for talks, said the Solomons' had spectacular tourism potential.

He said it was necessary to first improve the quality of airports - a process to which Mr McCully has previously committed more than $US22 million dollars of aid money for the development of two airports in Western Province.

He said recently New Zealand had been asked to undertake the same work at several other airports around the country.

Security guards were outside every entrance to the popular Cadbury World tourist attraction on Thursday morning and the factory was closed for the day.

Hundreds of workers were called to a meeting and briefed on the proposal to move production to Australia. In a statement, Mondelez said it would invest to redevelop the tourist side of the operation if the local community wanted it to.

Workers leaving the meeting had been told not to comment and had been given media contact cards to show people. They looked shocked and upset.

The workshop at the University of Waikato in April will look at how non Pasifika groups are using kava as an alcohol substitute, stress reliever or sleep aid.

The University's Apo Aporosa said kava use is growing in New Zealand, with more than 20,000 people estimated to be consuming it each weekend.

He said it is a good time to bring people together to discuss the local kava culture.

The items, all tabua- the polished tooth of a sperm whale - are highly regarded cultural gifts in Fiji, often passed down through generations.

But laws preventing the trade in endangered species mean that more than 100 tabua have been seized at New Zealand's border, and they are being stored by the department.

DOC's National Compliance Manager, Darryl Lew, said more than 90 per cent of the endangered specimens forfeited to the crown are destroyed, but not the tabua collection.

Police said the 51-year-old had been employed as a security consultant, but gave no further details.

But New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said the man had worked for the All Blacks for a long time and was "trusted and well-respected".

"Frankly, the charge seems bizarre and unbelievable," he said.

"However, as with all cases before the courts, there has to be a due process that takes place and it is not right or proper for us to make any further comment as this could jeopardise the outcome of the case," he added.