What’s Happening With NZ’s Aust Relationship?
February 20th, 2009
Is NZ being taken for a ride by Aust? Our economic future is tied strongly to theirs, but in certain areas, we are letting Aust take a lead when NZ should be acting more independently. There are real concerns NZ’s Pacific policy may be playing out through relations with Canberra. When he was Opposition Leader Bill English said the path to Washington is through Canberra. But Canberra is not out to do us any favours whatever the ideologues in Wellington might think. More important Pacific nations are not fools. They have a pretty clear idea of where their interests lie. Our concern must be to maintain the integrity of our relations with them though at times this can be a frustrating exercise. Our task now is to lead the way and this will require some delicate handling.
Meanwhile in another indication of how seriously the Aust Govt is taking NZ, Kevin Rudd has yet to appoint a new High Commissioner to Wellington. It’s now almost four months since previous High Commissioner John Dauth, was packed off to London. This is despite our change of Govt and the need for Aust to forge fresh and regular contact with top political leaders here. While Aust’s Deputy High Commissioner in Wellington, Frank Ingruber, is covering the gap, even Canberra insiders say leaving the top post empty creates unnecessary distraction.
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