National's Foreign Affairs spokesman John Luxton says Cabinet's decision to send a peace monitoring team to the Solomon Islands seems appropriate - but he will need more information before he can guarantee National's full backing.

"I have yet to receive a briefing from Phil Goff, but expect this to happen within the next 24 hours.

"My main concern is to ensure that the Government is taking every appropriate step to ensure the safety of the New Zealanders who will make up that peace monitoring team.

"Mr Goff has been quoted in the media as saying he is 'reasonably' confident about the safety of those New Zealanders. I hope to discuss this matter with him, to ascertain what safety procedures will be in place.

"This deployment once again highlights the importance of having a well trained defence force," John Luxton said.

Ends

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