Foreign relations of New Zealand

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New Zealand

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The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific economies. The country’s major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the current coalition government has been active in promoting free trade, nuclear disarmament, and arms control.

Contents

[edit] Participation in international organizations

New Zealand participates in the United Nations (UN); World Trade Organization (WTO); World Bank; International Monetary Fund (IMF); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); International Energy Agency; Asian Development Bank; South Pacific Forum; The Pacific Community; Colombo Plan; Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); and the International Whaling Commission. New Zealand also is an active member of the Commonwealth. Despite the 1985 rupture in the ANZUS alliance, New Zealand has maintained good working relations with the United States and Australia on a broad array of international issues.

[edit] Specific involvement

In the past, New Zealand’s geographic isolation and its agricultural economy’s general prosperity minimized public interest in international affairs. However, growing global trade and other international economic events have made New Zealanders increasingly aware of their country’s dependence on unstable overseas markets. New Zealand is a strong advocate of free trade, especially in agricultural products, and is a member of the Cairns group of nations in the WTO.

New Zealand’s economic involvement with Asia is increasingly important. New Zealand is a “dialogue partner” with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a member of the East Asia Summit and an active participant in APEC.

As a charter member of the Colombo Plan, New Zealand has provided Asian countries with technical assistance and capital. It also contributes through the Asian Development Bank and through UN programs and is a member of the UN Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific.

New Zealand has focused its bilateral economic assistance resources on projects in the South Pacific island states, especially on Bougainville. The country’s long association with Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa), reflected in a treaty of friendship signed in 1962, and its close association with Tonga have resulted in a flow of immigrants and visitors under work permit schemes from both countries. New Zealand administers Tokelau (formerly known as the Tokelau Islands) and provides foreign policy and economic support when requested for the freely associated self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue. Inhabitants of these areas hold New Zealand citizenship.

In 1947, New Zealand joined Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to form the South Pacific Commission, a regional body to promote the welfare of the Pacific region. New Zealand has been a leader in the organization. In 1971, New Zealand joined the other independent and self-governing states of the South Pacific to establish the South Pacific Forum (now known as the Pacific Islands Forum), which meets annually at the “heads of government” level.

[edit] Trade

New Zealand has existing free trade agreements with Australia, Brunei, Chile, Singapore, and Thailand; new free trade agreements are under negotiation with ASEAN, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.[1] New Zealand is involved in the WTO's Doha Development Agenda and was disappointed by the failure of the most recent talks in July 2006.

New Zealand's main export is food, primarily dairy products, meat, fruit and fish; about 95% of the country's agricultural produce is exported.[2] Other major exports are wood, and mechanical and electrical equipment. About 46% of exports are non-agricultural,[2] but the largest industry is still the food industry. Tourism is also an extremely important component of international trade: transport and travel form around 20% of the country's export trade.[3] New Zealand does not have large quantities of mineral resources, though it does produce some coal, oil, and natural gas.[3]

New Zealand's largest source of imports is Australia, followed by (in order) the United States, Japan, China, and Germany. The largest destinations for exports are, in order, Australia, the USA, Japan, China, and the UK. 71% of New Zealand's exports are to APEC countries. Trade figures for 2005 with New Zealand's biggest trade partners are as follows:[4]

2005 merchandise imports and exports (millions of NZ dollars)
Country Imports Exports Country Imports Exports
Australia 7,682 6,589 Malaysia 945 468
China 4,033 1,566 Singapore 1,240 428
Germany 1,804 789 Taiwan 880 773
Indonesia 586 465 Thailand 951 338
Italy 874 446 UK 1,192 1,432
Japan 4,082 3,260 USA 4,064 4,373
South Korea 1,024 1,081 Total (world) 22,837 30,817

[edit] Nuclear free policy

In the 1970s and 1980s anti-nuclear sentiment increased in New Zealand, fuelled mainly by concern about French nuclear testing in the Pacific at Moruroa atoll. This extended to concern about the presence of nuclear warheads or reactors on United States Navy ships visiting New Zealand, and upon its election in 1984, the Labour Party government of David Lange at once indicated its opposition to visits by such ships, following this up with legislation on the matter in 1985. Warships that did not fall into this category were not blocked, but the US took the view that any subsequent visit by a warship to New Zealand could not be carried out without violating the US' security policy of "neither confirming nor denying" nuclear capability on its ships.

After increasingly acrimonious debates, in August 1986 the United States formally suspended its security obligations to New Zealand that it had under the ANZUS mutual defence pact. This suspension remains in effect today, although the US no longer carries nuclear weapons aboard its surface naval vessels.[citation needed] In 1987 New Zealand passed legislation making the country a nuclear free zone, namely the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act; in the same year the US retaliated with the Broomfield Act, designating New Zealand as a "friend" rather than an "ally".[5] Relations between New Zealand and the US have had several ups and downs since then.

In recent years, some voices have suggested removing the anti-nuclear legislation, especially the ACT New Zealand political party; and up until February 2006 the National Party was in favour of holding a referendum on the issue. However, public opinion remains strongly in favour of the country's status as a nuclear free zone. In May 2006, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill, described the disagreement between the US and New Zealand as "a relic" but also signalled that the US wanted a closer defence relationship with New Zealand and praised New Zealand’s involvement in Afghanistan and reconstruction in Iraq. "Rather than trying to change each other's minds on the nuclear issue, which is a bit of a relic, I think we should focus on things we can make work," he told the Australian Financial Review.[6]

Relations between France and New Zealand were strained for two short periods in the 1980s and 1990s over the French nuclear tests at Moruroa and the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. These events worked to strengthen New Zealand's resolve to retain its anti-nuclear policy. Relations between the two countries are now cordial, with strong trade and many new bilateral links.[7]

[edit] Post-ANZUS relations

Despite the political contention over ANZUS, New Zealand forces have cooperated with U.S. forces subsequently in the 1991 Gulf War and in the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. New Zealand forces did not participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but a contingent of New Zealand army engineers assisted with reconstruction work in Iraq in the aftermath of the war, being based in Basra. New Zealand forces have also participated in peacekeeping efforts in the pacific region in East Timor and in the Solomon Islands.

[edit] Summary of international organization participation

ABEDA, ANZUS (U.S. suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, Commonwealth, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO[8]

[edit] Response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

Main article: Humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake#Contributing countries and supra-national organisations#List of Donors

The New Zealand government initially donated NZD 10 million (USD 7.2 million) in aid to victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, but on January 18, the government announced that an additional NZD 58 million would be donated. The government's response included $NZ20 million ($A18.4 million) for United Nations relief efforts, $NZ20 million ($A18.4 million) for work in Aceh and other parts of Sumatra through a bilateral aid program in Indonesia and a $NZ19 million ($A17.5 million) dollar-for-dollar matching of public donations by New Zealanders.

The government announced that it would match, dollar for dollar, the amount pledged by its citizens to various charities. As of January 18, this equated to a further NZD 19 million.

An airforce (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules, working in unison with the Royal Australian Air Force, was sent for evacuation and transport of relief supplies. New Zealand also sent an RNZAF 757 aircraft to the Thai city of Phuket with a specialist victim identification team on board. The 38-year old aircraft were plagued with severe technical difficulties, and on several occasions, were forced to halt aid efforts.[9]

[edit] 2006 East Timor crisis

Main article: East Timor crisis

On May 25, Prime Minister Clark requested more information as to exactly what support East Timor would require from New Zealand, before committing any forces. She said that "It's very important not to walk into what is a factional dispute in some respects and be seen to be taking sides," and "It's also important to be mindful that the Security Council is having consultations as we speak."[10]

On May 26, New Zealand deployed forty-two troops, with a second contingent of 120 troops leaving Christchurch on May 27, en route to Townsville, Queensland before being sent to East Timor. Clark said that the forces would be deployed where needed by the Australian command.[11]

[edit] New Zealand-Israel relations

Main articles: Israel-New Zealand relations and 2004 Israel-New Zealand spy scandal

On July 15, 2004, New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions against Israel and suspended high-level contacts between the two countries, after two of its citizens, Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara, were convicted of passport fraud. The New Zealand government stated that there was strong evidence that the two men were Mossad agents and this action was “not only utterly unacceptable but also a breach of New Zealand sovereignty and international law”. On 26 June 2005 the Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom sent a letter of apology to the New Zealand government. Diplomatic relations were fully re-established on August 30, 2005 when the Governor-General accepted the credentials of ambassador Naftali Tamir.

On August 14, 2006, Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed her happiness that the United Nations Security Council had unanimously passed Resolution 1701, calling for a "full cessation of hostilities" between Israeli and Hezbollah, on August 11.[12]

[edit] Territorial claims in Antarctica

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Source: NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  2. ^ a b Source: NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  3. ^ a b Source: Statistics New Zealand.
  4. ^ Source: Statistics New Zealand.
  5. ^ See further R. Thakur 1989 (October), "Creation of the nuclear-free New Zealand: brinkmanship without a brink," Asian Survey 29: 919-39.
  6. ^ Xinhua, "NZ, U.S. links delicate on nuclear ban", People's Daily Online, 9 May 2006.
  7. ^ Sources: NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, French Ministère des Affaires étrangères.
  8. ^ Source: CIA World Factbook, 2003 edition (external link).
  9. ^ NZ government, "Government doubles dollar-for-dollar donation offer", 31 Dec. 2004.
  10. ^ "UN opens E Timor refugee camp", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 25 May 2006.
  11. ^ RNZ. "More troops as Dili violence escalates", Television New Zealand, 27 May 2006.
  12. ^ NZ government press release, "NZ welcomes Security Council resolution", Scoop, 12 Aug. 2006.


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