On August 5 1971 the first meeting of the South Pacific Forum took place in Wellington.

The first meeting of the South Pacific Forum was initiated by New Zealand and held in Wellington, with attendants of seven countries including the President of Nauru, the Prime Ministers of Western Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, the Premier of the Cook Islands, the Australian Minister for External Territories, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. It was a private and informal discussion of a wide range of issues of common concern, concentrating on matters directly affecting the daily lives of the people of the islands of the South Pacific, devoting particular attention to trade, shipping, tourism, and education. Afterwards this meeting was held annually in member countries and areas in turn. In 1999, the 30th South Pacific Forum decided to transform into Pacific Islands Forum, with a more extensive and formal way of discussion and organization.

This image shown here from the meeting in Wellington is from a Miscellaneous collection of images Archives New Zealand holds.

Reference: ACHU 19290 MISC30 8/26 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22311835

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