Winston Peters has swapped gifts with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on his first overseas engagement as foreign minister for the new Coalition Government.
Peters arrived in Suva this afternoon for a whirlwind 24-hour visit to Fiji.
Peters and Rabuka shook hands for a media photo-call before swapping gifts.
"You pulled up one of your islands with a fishing hook," Rabuka said as he passed a large fish hook carving to Peters.
"In your younger days when you were training as a soldier here is a map of where you were," Peters said as he passed over a large map of the place Rabuka trained in New Zealand.
"Desert Road?" Rabuka inquired to which Peters nodded.
Rabuka also joked about watching Peters give his "maiden speech" in Parliament after the new Government was sworn in.
"Could you tell them what you thought of it?" Peters joked while pointing at media.
"You gave some people hell," Rabuka replied smiling.
The pair then retired to a meeting room for talks with officials from both nations.
Before leaving on his trip Peters gave the reason behind his flying visit.
"The Coalition Government is deeply committed to the Pacific and to ensuring New Zealand has the connections and relationships to help the region succeed," Peters said.
"I look forward to meeting again with Mr Rabuka and Mr Puna, thereby reaffirming the close ties between New Zealand and Fiji - and with the Pacific region as a whole."
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