Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will be in New Zealand on an introductory visit, at the invitation of New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

A key objective of the visit, which takes place from today till Wednesday, is to explore ways to strengthen the close and longstanding bilateral partnership between the two countries, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday.

In Wellington, Dr Balakrishnan will call on Prime Minister Bill English and be hosted to lunch by Mr McCully.

He will meet Minister of Health, Sport and Recreation Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Trade and State Owned Enterprises Todd McClay, Minister of Finance and Infrastructure Steven Joyce, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson and Labour Party Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs David Parker.

Dr Balakrishnan, who is minister-in-charge of Singapore's Smart Nation initiative, will also visit Auckland and receive a briefing on the Auckland Smart City Initiative. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff will host him to lunch.

Joanna Seow