New Zealand Minister to Attend US Pacific Investment Summit

Customs Minister Casey Costello will represent New Zealand at the two-day event in Honolulu.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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New Zealand Customs Minister Casey Costello will travel to Honolulu this week to represent the country at the United States' Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity Summit. The summit will bring together Pacific leaders, senior US officials, and private-sector investors to discuss reducing barriers to investment, accelerating project readiness, and connecting capital with opportunities across the Pacific.

Why it matters

The summit is an important opportunity for New Zealand to strengthen partnerships that support the Pacific's long-term prosperity and resilience. Stronger economic connections, resilient infrastructure, and increased investment are central to lifting incomes, growing jobs, combatting transnational organized crime, and supporting communities across the region.

The details

The inclusion of all Pacific Islands Forum member countries at the summit reflects the central role of the Forum in regional cooperation. New Zealand welcomes this initiative by the United States, a Forum Dialogue Partner, as an important contribution to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Meeting with US private-sector organizations will also help identify opportunities for investment in priority sectors, including commercial partnerships that complement regional initiatives such as PACER Plus, a comprehensive agreement aimed at fostering sustainable economic development in the Pacific.

  • The summit takes place on February 23 and 24, 2026.

The players

Casey Costello

New Zealand's Customs Minister, who will represent the country at the Pacific investment summit.

United States Government

The host of the Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity Summit.

Pacific Islands Forum

The regional organization that includes all the Pacific countries participating in the summit, reflecting its central role in regional cooperation.

PACER Plus

A comprehensive agreement aimed at fostering sustainable economic development in the Pacific, which the summit will explore opportunities to complement.

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What they’re saying

“The Summit is an important opportunity for New Zealand to strengthen partnerships that support the Pacific's long‑term prosperity and resilience.”

— Casey Costello, New Zealand Customs Minister

“Stronger economic connections, resilient infrastructure, and increased investment are central to lifting incomes, growing jobs, combatting transnational organised crime, and supporting communities. These benefits extend across our region, where shared prosperity depends on collaboration and trusted long‑term partnerships.”

— Casey Costello, New Zealand Customs Minister

What’s next

The summit will provide an opportunity for New Zealand to identify potential investment and partnership opportunities that can support the country's commitment to a resilient and prosperous Pacific region.

The takeaway

This summit represents an important step in strengthening economic cooperation and investment across the Pacific, which is crucial for supporting long-term prosperity, security, and shared well-being in the region.