Northland's Shane Jones farewells Pacific post

Outgoing Pacific Economic Ambassador Shane Jones and his fiancee Dot Pumipi. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Northland's Shane Jones is to be farewelled from his role as Pacific Economic Ambassador for the past three years with a function at Auckland University's fale on Monday.

The function will be hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a guest list including former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff, who is now Auckland mayor, and senior Pacific officials.

Mr Jones said three years had passed quickly.

"Perhaps it's true that time flies when you're having fun," he said.

The former Labour list MP and Cabinet Minister said he left the job much wiser and more experienced in foreign affairs and Pacific issues and, apart from a severe case of dengue fever contracted in Papua New Guinea, he had "nothing but the most charitable of feelings about the Pacific".

Happy memories included his engagement to partner Dot Pumipi in the Solomon Islands last year.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Jones will stand for New Zealand First in the Whangarei electorate once his ambassadorial role ends.

However, both Mr Jones and party leader Winston Peters have refused to comment on his political future until his contract ends on May 31.