Niuean premier to pay 1st official visit to New Zealand on Thursday

ANKARA (AA) - Niuean Premier Dalton Tagelagi will arrive on his first official visit to New Zealand on Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday.

In a statement, New Zealand's prime minister said she was "delighted" to welcome Tagelagi on his first official bilateral overseas visit to her country, according to a government press release by Wellington.

Ardern said there are 30,000 Niueans living in New Zealand, pointing to the connections and "special constitutional links" that make Niue one of New Zealand's "closest partners."

Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, located northeast of New Zealand.

During his visit to Wellington, Tagelagi will also meet with New Zealand's foreign minister and minister for Pacific Peoples.

The two leaders will also sign a new "statement of partnership," according to the statement.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid