During his visit to New Zealand, the United Nations chief has rebuked the Government's policy to resume oil and gas exploration

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Auckland yesterday, ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga next week.

He met Prime Minister Chris Luxon and foreign minister Winston Peters separately.

Mr Guterres said he did not raise New Zealand's intention to extract more fossil fuels in his meetings, but said any attempt to do so would be in vain.