The Prime Minister will be doing what he can to steer clear of Fiji's domestic political issues while there.  

Christopher Luxon's visiting Fiji and Niue this week, his first visit to the region as PM.  

The Fiji trip will have a significant trade and economic focus and includes a meeting with the country's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.  

Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking that there's a slight tension between New Zealand establishing itself as a close partner and discussions around AUKUS.  

He says many Pacific Island countries aren't keen on that, and don't see themselves as a pawn in a US-China dominance showdown. 

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