11. R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Is he satisfied that the diplomatic relationship between New Zealand and the United States of America is improving; if so, why?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Link to this
Secretary Rice’s visit to New Zealand was a great success, and it reflected a stronger and improved relationship between our two countries. Indeed, her visit confirmed that the relationship is recognised by both sides to be the best it has been for decades. The Secretary’s visit also confirmed that both sides are continuing to take a positive and forward-looking view of the relationship. As I noted in my remarks to the United States - New Zealand Council session at Auckland on Saturday night: “We have agreed at the highest levels that it is in the interests of both countries to work for a relationship that is defined by what we share and have in common, not by our differences. Both sides share a determination to modernise our already strong and enduring relationship and frame it in a contemporary setting.”
How is our relationship with the United States of America evolving, to enable us to face the challenges of the 21st century today and into the future?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS Link to this
It has been a dramatic evolution, with a lot of work going in over a long time. But now we are starting to see the fruits of this in our cooperation in the Pacific, in the refocusing by the United States of the Pacific, as imaged by the recent meeting of foreign Ministers in Samoa that was significantly attended, and in some real issues to do with the long-term sustainability of energy, in particular, of the islands. We see it also in our work on countries like North Korea—the joint efforts to get rid of nuclear weapon threats in the peninsula—and in the kind of progress we are making there and in many other areas around the world. In short, New Zealand is seen to be a country that is able to make significant contributions as a good neighbour in the region and, indeed, in the world.