Wellington, Feb 5 (IANS): New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will step up his country's lobbying for a seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC) during a trip to New York this week.
McCully said Wednesday that he would host a Waitangi Day -- New Zealand's national day Feb 6 -- reception at its permanent mission, reported Xinhua.
McCully would also meet a range of permanent representatives at the UN headquarters.
"Securing a seat on the Security Council for 2015-16 is the government's top foreign policy priority," McCully said.
"In the lead-up to the election, it is important to take opportunities in New York to outline our credentials as a fair-minded and independent small state."
McCully would present the African Union Handbook, a joint project by New Zealand and the African Union Commission, to a meeting of the 54 African permanent representatives in New York.