WELLINGTON - New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters reaffirmed the country's commitment to Pacific regionalism on Thursday.

"New Zealand is a steadfast and long-standing advocate for Pacific regionalism," a New Zealand government statement quoted Peters, who attended the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji, as saying.

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Peters highlighted New Zealand's role as a founding member of the forum and host of the first Leaders Meeting in Wellington in 1971 and proposed New Zealand host the 2027 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting, the statement said.