Judith Collins

Veterans' Affairs Minister Judith Collins will represent New Zealand at commemorations in Gdansk, Poland next week to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II.

Ms Collins will lay a wreath on behalf of the New Zealand Government at the commemorations at Westerplatte Defenders' Cemetery on September 1.

While in Poland, Ms Collins, will visit Grzegorz Schetyna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Administration.

As Minister of Police and Corrections, Ms Collins will also meet senior Polish Justice, Police and Interior Affairs Officials, and visit Mokotow Remand Prison in Warsaw.

Ms Collins will also visit France where she will lay wreaths at New Zealand and France war memorials at Le Quesnoy on the outskirts of Paris, and visit a remand centre.

In Paris, Ms Collins will meet with Jean-Marie Bockel, France's Secretary of State for Justice, and Hubert Falco, Minister of Veterans' Affairs.