New Zealand foreign minister to attend UN as prime minister campaigns at home

New Zealand's foreign minister will attend the United Nations General Assembly before heading onto Washington for meetings on Pacific regional issues, leaving Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at home to campaign ahead of the Oct. 14 election. Campaigning is well underway in New Zealand with the current Labour government trailing in the polls and looking likely to be replaced by centre-right National Party and their coalition. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement that she would participate in the United Nations leaders’ meetings starting this week on behalf at Hipkins and undertake a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings.