Dr Shane Reti

I am pleased to be in Tonga for the 2025 @SPC_CPS Conference. Supporting collaboration in science and technology is a surefire way to improve the lives of people in the Pacific.

Our 7th National Party Leader and 35th Prime Minister. Rest in Peace, Jim.

In our troubled world, we sometimes need to stop, take pause from time to time, to reflect on our successes. Today marks one of them, because there is much to celebrate in our 60 years joined together in free association. -WP @DrShaneRetiMP 🇨🇰 🤝 🇳🇿 🗣️ beehive.govt.nz/speech/celebra…

“Celebrating 60 Years of the Cook Islands’ Unique Path” The Minister speaking at Cook Islands Constitution Day celebrations in Auckland today 🇨🇰 🤝 🇳🇿 @DrShaneRetiMP Speech: beehive.govt.nz/speech/celebra…

This partnership reflects New Zealand’s commitment to Pacific health security, and to working together for a stronger, healthier region 🇳🇿🇫🇯

That’s why I was proud to announce New Zealand’s commitment of NZ$4 million to support Fiji’s national HIV response. This is about more than funding - it’s about standing with our Pacific whānau in times of need and backing their leadership and solutions.

Today in Suva, I met with Fiji’s Minister of Health and Medical Services, Hon Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, to hear firsthand about the country’s national HIV outbreak and the progress of Fiji’s HIV Response Plan.

This afternoon, I spoke at the Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network and met with Hon Tomasi Tunabuna, Fiji MP and Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways.

This week, I am representing New Zealand at the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji. Discussions will focus on the key socioeconomic issues facing the Pacific and how the region can work together to navigate an uncertain economic environment.

🚨 Big move for NZ tech: Govt launches the NZ Institute for Advanced Technology – focused on AI, quantum & synthetic bio. 🔬 $231M invested 🌏 HQ in Auckland ⚙️ First project: magnetic materials in Wellington A future-ready NZ starts here. #NZIAT #TechForGrowth #InnovationNZ

We discussed deepening our collaboration, particularly in advanced technologies, so we can continue to learn from one another and make progress together.

It was a pleasure to meet Lord Vallance, my Ministerial counterpart in the UK. New Zealand and the UK have strong research partnerships in many areas already and share an ambition for science and technology to drive economic growth.

🚀 A founder-friendly IP policy, strong industry ties & scale-up space fuel a thriving startup pipeline. Thanks to the teams for sharing your vision. A model worth watching! 👏

💡 From cancer breakthroughs to pathogen-resistant crops & microbiome-powered hydroponics—science here is shaping the future of health & food security 🌱🧬 🏫 Community-first: school maths programs, tech for seniors & more.

🔬 Inspiring visit to @imperialcollege & @SynbiCITE 🇬🇧 Impressed by their strategy for talent & research with real-world impact. Imperial is driving innovation with a diverse community & strong economic focus. #WestTechLondon is leading the charge 💼

✨ Setting the scene for the panel “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC, SUSTAINABLE AND JUST PROGRESS” at the #F4D Conference in #Sevilla 🇪🇸 was truly a standout moment. Hosted by the Spanish Minister and joined by @rppola , Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy from Guinea; @DrShaneRetiMP , Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology from New Zealand; @oscarlopeztwit , Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service from Spain; and @tlamanauskas , Deputy Secretary General from @ITU—was a highlight of my time at the conference. Why? Because while it's crucial to address the financial gap, it's just as important to ask: Where do we need investments to truly accelerate development, productivity, and innovation? There is no other field with greater potential to drive that acceleration than Artificial Intelligence. If well managed, AI could add $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030. But if deployed without addressing inequalities and risks, it risks amplifying the very challenges we aim to solve. That’s why this debate was so valuable—focusing on digital public goods like skills, infrastructure, data, computing power, institutions, and legal frameworks, and how to build them up equitably. It was a pleasure to contribute to such an inspiring discussion, exploring how countries and individuals can not only benefit from but also shape and master this technological revolution. This transformation won’t happen without strong policy frameworks. It’s time to move beyond the false dichotomy of regulation vs. innovation. Not regulating is a regulatory decision. Let’s get real about the policies, investments, and incentives needed to create AI ecosystems that serve the common good and genuinely improve people’s lives. And as I have mentioned in my campaign for the Director General of @UNESCO , we need three “i’’ to succeed: Inclusiveness, Innovation, and Impact. #VamosConRamosUNESCO

🤝 New Zealand remains firmly committed to working in partnership with our Pacific whānau to ensure their priorities are front and centre at the 4th Financing for Development Conference. #FfD4

🌺 A pleasure to co-host a Pacific Breakfast in Seville alongside Australian Minister for International Development, Hon Anne Ally and Tonga as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.