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Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
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Effective counter-terrorist strategies focus both on the symptoms and the causes of violence. New Zealand supports regional efforts to address some of the broader systemic issues that may be relevant to terrorism, including countering some of the stereotypes and misconceptions that terrorists may seek to exploit. Interfaith dialogue can contribute to this process by reaching out to religious moderates and isolating extremists. There is strong interest in interfaith dialogue on the part of the UK and the EU generally, and in Southeast Asia - it was the subject of a recent Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Indonesia. Organisations such as the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Commonwealth are also becoming very involved.
New Zealand has therefore been an active supporter of regional interfaith dialogue, in particular the Interfaith Dialogue (IFD) initiated by Australia and Indonesia in Yogyakarta in December 2004. We (and the ten member New Zealand interfaith delegation that attended) considered the meeting to have been a positive step forward in engaging faith communities from around the region.
New Zealand has been considering what role it might play in helping to ensure a useful outcome to, and continuation of, the Yogyakarta process. We recently accepted an Australian invitation to join the officials’ steering group (along with Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) that will oversee the organisation of the next IFD meeting expected to be held in the Philippines in March 2006. Other options for a New Zealand contribution are being considered, including possibly hosting (perhaps in partnership with other interested countries, such as Norway) a colloquium of faith leaders and practitioners to develop an intellectual framework to advance the regional process. We will need to take stock of options, and timing issues, and provide further advice to Ministers as the regional process evolves.
Although Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have been at the forefront of international attention, the focus for action has changed, most notably since the events of September 2001. Earlier efforts were focussed on getting those countries with WMD to disarm, and the relevant international WMD control treaties applied to nation states. After 2001 international attention shifted to concerns about terrorists obtaining WMD, leading to a new concentration on the need to secure existing WMD sources (e.g. nuclear reactors, stockpiles of old chemical weapons) and to control as rigorously as possible all materials that could contribute to developing the various forms of WMD. In disarmament jargon, the main focus of international effort has shifted from disarmament (eliminating existing WMD and ensuring that nations cannot secretly re-arm) to non-proliferation (ensuring that WMD do not spread beyond the existing possessors).
New Zealand strongly supports these non-proliferation efforts: they are a useful and necessary response to the threat posed by WMD. We remain concerned, however, to ensure that progress is also made toward the goal of disarmament and the elimination of WMD.
Our interests engage us in collective approaches to international security, disarmament and arms control. So we work with other countries for the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of all WMD. We support non-proliferation initiatives (like the Proliferation Security Initiative and the G8 Global Partnership Against WMD). Our overarching interest long term remains the development of strong and effective multilateral instruments that apply to all countries. We have signed and ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Outer Space Treaty. In concert with others we impose export controls on strategic and dual-use goods. Our nuclear materials are under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
Consistent with our long-standing advocacy against nuclear weapons, the focus of New Zealand’s efforts is in the field of nuclear disarmament. Central to this effort has been, since 1998, our partnership with other governments in the New Agenda group - Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, South Africa and Sweden. The New Agenda was the key to securing, at the 2000 NPT Review Conference, the unequivocal undertaking from the nuclear weapon states to achieve the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. New Agenda members will have been consulting about how best to continue to press for delivery against this and other commitments to nuclear disarmament.
New Zealand is currently in its first two-year term (May 2004 to May 2006) on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (which administers the Chemical Weapons Convention). We participate actively in ongoing work to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention.
New Zealand is a contributor to the G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD, an initiative designed primarily to secure possible WMD sources in the former Soviet Union. We have already contributed $1.2 million towards destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles in Russia, and funding has been set aside for further contributions to other projects under the G8 programme.
New Zealand also supports the Proliferation Security Initiative (intended to make unauthorised movement of WMD-related materials more difficult) and has participated in relevant regional exercises (see separate brief).
New Zealand is complying fully with UN Security Council Resolution 1540 of 28 April 2004 (which mandates both domestic and export controls on WMD-related materials) and has undertaken to assist Pacific Island states with compliance if they wish.
Work continues in Geneva with New Zealand’s active participation, under the Inhumane Weapons Convention (CCW) on provisions to alleviate the effects on civilian populations of cluster munitions and anti-vehicle mines.
New Zealand is also active in seeking to have all countries adhere to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. We are currently an officeholder in the Ottawa Convention.
We participate in international efforts to curb the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, with a particular priority on issues facing the Pacific region.
New Zealand is a member of four export control regimes and through the New Zealand Strategic Goods List implements their decisions controlling the export of WMD-related, military and dual-use goods.
The next opportunity to address disarmament and non-proliferation issues across the board will be at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, which gets under way on 3 October.
One developing issue which will play out in both the First Committee and the immediately preceding International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference is the question of access to sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. (Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, countries have an “inalienable right” to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as long as they conform fully to their treaty obligations to show that no material is diverted to nuclear weapons. But once countries possess certain sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle – enrichment and reprocessing facilities – they have the knowledge and means to manufacture weapons-grade nuclear material, should they wish to do so. Only a few countries currently possess these facilities, and there is a hot debate developing about how many others should do so.) The issue of Iran’s development of enrichment and reprocessing facilities is before the IAEA Board of Governors. The Board has passed resolutions asking Iran to suspend voluntarily any further enrichment-related activities. New Zealand, although not currently a member of the Board, has supported this call, and urged Iran to continue negotiations with the “EU3” (Britain, France, and Germany) toward a political solution. At the beginning of August Iran did restart some enrichment-related activities; the future of negotiations with the EU3 is now uncertain. The issue is likely to be at the forefront of international debate over the next few months.
Other current issues for New Zealand include accession to the amended Inhumane Weapons Convention (CCW) and the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, which will require Cabinet and Parliamentary approval.
The international emphasis on non-proliferation will inevitably mean more work on strengthening and extending New Zealand’s export controls over the coming period, which will require legislative change.
Transport of radioactive material through the Pacific region is an issue on which New Zealand continues to work with Forum countries and shipping states, and in the IAEA.
Illegal migration, including people-smuggling and trafficking, is a global issue, with profits estimated at US$10-12 billion a year rivalling the narcotics trade. It is run by organised crime syndicates and is a growing problem in the Asia-Pacific region. Coordinated international and regional efforts and initiatives are required to combat this transnational crime.
The Bali Process on People-Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and related Transnational Crime has provided a regional forum to address these issues. It has successfully encouraged policy and operational agencies from source, transit and destination countries across the Asia-Pacific region to cooperate more effectively against people-smuggling. Work undertaken to encourage members to implement legislation to criminalise people-smuggling and trafficking has been particularly successful, resulting in a significant increase in the number of Bali member countries with such legislation in place.
New Zealand is a strong supporter of the Bali Process and has taken a leadership role since its inception. We currently act as the Coordinator for “regional and international cooperation on policy issues and legal frameworks” for the Bali Process. New Zealand has so far contributed over US$150,000 to support Bali Process activities. New Zealand co-hosted and co-chaired a workshop with Thailand on lost and stolen passports on 20-22 April 2005 in Bangkok
New Zealand is also involved, along with Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in an informal Steering Committee, which provides direction on the Bali Process and its work programme. The Steering Group met in Bangkok on 1 August to review recent activities and consider future directions of the Bali Process. The Steering Group acknowledged the positive impact the Bali Process has had on regional cooperation, with a noticeable increase in the willingness of member states to share information and openly discuss people-smuggling and trafficking concerns. The Steering Group agreed to discuss the future of the Bali Process further at its next meeting in New Zealand, early 2006.
At the bilateral level, New Zealand officials have been working to consolidate and increase cooperation with key regional counterparts. New Zealand officials visited Indonesia in June 2005 to renew relationships with Indonesian Government contacts and to discuss a proposal for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at departmental level on Immigration Cooperation. Indonesia is an important strategic regional partner and a MOU could help to establish a framework for a higher level of cooperation on people-smuggling. New Zealand and Indonesian officials have agreed to begin work on a first draft of the MOU and have set a target date of end 2005 for its agreement and signature.
New Zealand has introduced measures at the national level and has been working bilaterally with Australia and with countries in the wider Asia Pacific region to disrupt people-smuggling ventures. For New Zealand, people-smuggling rather than trafficking has been the greater problem, although there has been some evidence of migrants being trafficked to New Zealand and exploited for employment purposes.
In 2002 New Zealand ratified the two Protocols to the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) that deal with the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking of Persons. New offences of migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons have been created which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, or $500,000 fine, or both. Other legislative changes broadened and increased the penalties for a range of associated immigration and passport offences and increased Police powers to prosecute those guilty of trafficking, while ensuring that the rights of the trafficked people are protected. To date, there have been no trafficking prosecutions in New Zealand.
New Zealand has worked hard to strengthen regional and international cooperation tackling people-smuggling and trafficking issues, primarily through the Bali Process. We have so far escaped mass sea borne arrivals of potentially illegal immigrants, but the 2001 Tampa incident shows New Zealand is vulnerable.
New Zealand needs the cooperation of governments in our region to mount effective collective action against people-smuggling. New Zealand has stepped up efforts to counter the domestic threat, bilaterally with Australia, and within the wider region. Through its overseas posts and Wellington staff, MFAT works with other New Zealand agencies such as NZIS, Police and Customs to devise and implement policies to minimise the illegal immigration risk here.
National borders alone cannot ensure security from those global threats. People-smuggling and trafficking issues call for regional and multilateral responses, as well as strong domestic action. New Zealand is strengthening regional frameworks for addressing people-smuggling and illegal migration including through the UNHCR, the Pacific Immigration Directors Conference (PIDC), the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Pacific Rim Intelligence Conference (PACRIM). Close cooperation with Australia remains a priority.
The fifty years since the conclusion of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights have seen the construction of an international architecture, founded on the six core treaties[1], designed to protect and promote human rights. There is a more vigilant and searching scrutiny of human rights violations internationally, assisted by an increasingly active media and influential NGOs.
At the same time, the United Nations human rights architecture has come under increasing attack, reflecting the broader challenge to the UN system as well as a backlash against human rights. There is an influential block of states resisting the increasing reach of the UN and calling into question basic human rights. Progress in recent years has been incremental. Debate is often mired in a re-litigation of previous agreements and there is limited meaningful engagement on implementation. Attempts to engage on country situations at the major UN human rights fora are usually blocked, even when human rights violations taking place are among the worst in the world. Debate on thematic issues is becoming more complex, with an increasing emphasis on economic, cultural and social rights.
The UN reform process currently underway provides an opportunity to bridge differences, restore some momentum to the international human rights agenda and to improve parts of the human rights machinery that have been working poorly. It is likely that human rights will be recognised as one of the three pillars of the United Nations, together with security and development. The major focus will be on replacing the poorly functioning UN Commission on Human Rights with a more credible body.
Human rights are central to New Zealand foreign policy. There are compelling reasons for this, including:
Given the expanding international human rights agenda and public expectations that New Zealand will seek to make a difference to international human rights, prioritisation is important. For this reason, we focus on engagement in the major multilateral human rights fora – the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee and the Commission on Human Rights. Longstanding priority issues for New Zealand have been the rights of women, children, disabled people, and indigenous people, core civil and political rights and some of the worst human rights country situations, including those in our region.
Where we can, New Zealand works in coalitions of like-minded countries. Our closest partners are Canada, Australia, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as increasingly influential likeminded blocks (the Latin Group and the European Union). We have annual consultations with CANZ, Switzerland and the EU on human rights. We also have a role to live up to as a credible bridge-builder with other regional groups, and look for opportunities to assist consensus on human rights.
New Zealand is engaged in negotiations on reform of the United Nations human rights machinery in the lead up to the UN High Level Summit. Our focus has been on supporting the establishment of a new Human Rights Council to replace the poorly functioning Commission on Human Rights. Major decisions will be taken at the United Nations High Level Summit but negotiations on the detail of the functioning of the Council and other reforms will continue until the end of the year.
New Zealand will seek to maintain its profile as a firm and principled defender of human rights at the forthcoming General Assembly (Third Committee) in New York (3 October – 23 November 2005). The Third Committee is a key meeting on international human rights covering a range of thematic issues and country situations, but this year is likely be overshadowed by parallel negotiations on human rights reform.
New Zealand is taking a lead role chairing negotiations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The sixth session of the Ad Hoc Committee concluded in August. Good progress was made. We are now preparing a revised text to serve as the basis for future negotiations, scheduled for January 2006. We are also protecting New Zealand’s interest in the development of several other new norms and instruments, including a possible new instrument on enforced disappearances.
New Zealand supports efforts to ensure the UN addresses indigenous issues more effectively. We participate in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues, a new body set up in 2002, to advise UN agencies and coordinate their activities affecting indigenous people. We are also active in the ongoing negotiations on a draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The next meeting on the Declaration is scheduled for December.
New Zealand is due to report under the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), covering the period 2000 - 2005. Work is underway on the report.
New Zealand has committed itself to reviewing its reservations to five of the six core human rights treaties with a view to withdrawing them or narrowing their scope. Reviews of two of our three reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, relating to age mixing in prisons and access to social services for children unlawfully in New Zealand, will be submitted to Ministers before the end of 2005.
The Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee reported to Parliament in August 2005 on its inquiry into the role of international human rights in foreign policy and made recommendations to government. The recommendations lapsed when the 47th Parliament was dissolved. The 48th Parliament will consider and decide whether to reinstate these recommendations. If it chooses to reinstate them, the government will have 90 days from the date of that decision to respond.
The Ministry expects to contribute to the Government’s response to the New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights (NZAPHR), prepared by the Human Rights Commission. A report to Cabinet on the ongoing process for responding to the NZAPHR is due by the end of November; the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet are the lead agency.
[1] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC); and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
The Commonwealth is a voluntary organisation of 53 member countries spanning six continents and 1.8 billion people (around 30% of the world’s population). Members (with the exception of Mozambique – a former Portuguese colony) have shared historic and cultural links from their British colonial pasts. This has left similar systems of government, law, and education, and the use of a common language - English. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years and is where the policy direction and activities of the Commonwealth are decided. It will next meet in Malta in November 2005.
The Commonwealth has no founding charter, but members commit themselves to the statements of belief and guiding principles set out by successive CHOGMs[2], which elucidate the key Commonwealth values of respect for human rights, democracy and good governance. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), a group of eight foreign ministers, was established to monitor members’ respect for these principles, and deals with serious and persistent violations of the Harare Declaration principles. Members can have their membership suspended for not respecting these principles.
The Commonwealth Secretariat supports governmental and official linkages within the organisation. Established by CHOGM in 1965, it is led by the Secretary-General, currently Rt Hon Don McKinnon. The Secretariat is responsible to member governments, organises meetings and conferences between them (such as the Ministerial meetings), and gives effect to decisions for collective action by CMAG. It also provides technical assistance to members, and promotes dialogue and other exchanges of information between them.
Since 2000 the Commonwealth’s governance structure has been revised. Leaders at the Coolum 2002 CHOGM adopted the High Level Review Group report on the role of the Commonwealth. The report went beyond the political sphere to focus on the future role and direction of the Commonwealth, its economic and developmental role, technical assistance and administrative reforms in the Commonwealth Secretariat. There is now a four-year strategic plan and a two-year budgetary and operational planning cycle for the Secretariat and associated Commonwealth organisations. Personnel, planning and budget processes have all been improved within the Secretariat as a part of introducing modern administrative practice into the organisation.
The Commonwealth still faces the challenge that it is often perceived as a smaller mirror of the UN (which it is clearly not in either scale, scope, or resources). This can lead to unrealistic expectations, overreach and loss of focus. The Commonwealth does, however, have the advantages of a diverse but smaller membership, and being a trusted partner with the ability to bring its good offices and other mechanisms into play to broker relationships, promote its core ideals and resolve disputes.
Following the 11 September attacks the issue of terrorism also loomed large in the Commonwealth, with action taken to complement counter-terrorism efforts elsewhere, particularly in the United Nations. A Commonwealth Committee on Terrorism was created, and an action plan has been developed.
As a founding member of the Commonwealth New Zealand is involved in a wide range of Commonwealth activities, governmental and non-governmental. New Zealand considers the organisation an effective vehicle for strengthening political, economic and other links between its members, and promoting people-centred economic development. The Secretary-General appoints special envoys to promote democratic principles, the rule of law, good governance and fundamental human rights. The Commonwealth also encourages good governance through the observation of elections and New Zealanders regularly participate in observer groups.
For New Zealand, like many other small Commonwealth countries, membership provides an opportunity to pursue our wider interests with countries we would not normally have much bilateral interaction with, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean. In our region shared Commonwealth ties are a useful complement to the Pacific Forum. The two organisations work well together, particularly in the area of good governance, which is of direct interest to New Zealand. Because a large proportion of the Commonwealth is made up of small and developing states, it provides a useful forum for discussion on these issues. New Zealand is a regular participant on the Ministerial Group on Small States.
New Zealand engages with the Commonwealth from an aid perspective. The Commonwealth’s development assistance programmes are some of the most cost-efficient and effective amongst multilateral agencies[3]. It is significant that most of the Commonwealth’s members are developing countries.
Under Don McKinnon’s leadership the Commonwealth has been bringing its administrative practices up to date and seeking greater efficiency. We monitor progress and will want to support the further continuation of the reform process. This will be a topic at the forthcoming Malta CHOGM.
The duration of this year’s CHOGM in Malta will be reduced to 2.5 days, with the focus on the Leaders’ Retreat. Foreign Ministers will also now meet before CHOGM to receive institutional reports, engage with civil society and prepare the Communiqué. The meeting will also incorporate the Ministerial Group on Small States Meeting. New Zealand expects the new format will need to be reviewed after Malta and changes made if necessary.
Taking action against members who do not meet Commonwealth governance requirements is an ongoing issue for the Commonwealth. There are diverse views on how to handle issues of suspension versus assistance to bring members back into line. The most significant current issue is that of Pakistan’s President Musharraf’s continuation as Head of State and Chief of Army Staff (COAS). This contravenes Commonwealth guidelines. The President has now undertaken not to remain as COAS beyond 2007 but CMAG will keep Pakistan on its agenda.
Zimbabwe chose to leave the Commonwealth in 2003 over its suspension as a member. While no longer directly on the Commonwealth agenda, the situation in the country is affecting its largely Commonwealth neighbours. This has the potential to draw requests from them for Commonwealth assistance in dealing with humanitarian and other issues, for example refugees and illegal migration.
The new Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) strategic plan represents a good fit with NZAID principles and values. New Zealand is planning to increase its contribution to the CFTC in 2006/07 from $3.3m to $4.0m. In return, we will want to see further refinement and strengthening of the good progress so far by the CFTC on strategic planning, administration and budget, and evaluation activities, working closely with donors and the wider membership.
[2] These include the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles (Singapore 1971), the Harare Declaration (Zimbabwe 1991) and the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Programme (New Zealand 1995).
[3] New Zealand contributes to all major Commonwealth funds, including to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Access Facility the Commonwealth of Learning, Commonwealth Youth Programme, and Commonwealth Foundation. NZAID also provides money to support a joint office in New York for small states that would otherwise have difficulty in securing office space and administrative support for United Nations engagement.
New Zealand is committed to making an active contribution on a select number of bodies of the United Nations and its specialised agencies.
The following are the organs of the United Nations and specialised agencies on which New Zealand is currently serving:
In the human rights area, New Zealander Paul Hunt is the Special Rapporteur on Health.
The following are the United Nations and specialised agencies for which New Zealand has decided to pursue a candidacy:
Ministers have agreed that the campaign to have Sir Kenneth Keith elected to the International Court of Justice is New Zealand’s current priority. Elections are scheduled to take place on 7 November this year during the 60th United Nations General Assembly in New York. No New Zealander has ever served on the ICJ and there has not been a representative from the South Pacific on the Court for nearly 40 years. Sir Kenneth’s outstanding credentials make him an ideal candidate. Indications are looking positive and Sir Kenneth’s support base continues to increase. However his direct rival for the seat, Julio Gonzalez Campos from Spain, also has significant support and we assess it will be a tightly fought battle to the end.
Consular work is what the government does for the welfare and protection of its citizens abroad. The core task is helping New Zealanders in difficulty – including arrests, illnesses and deaths. It includes emergency response in the event of an overseas crisis, such as the Boxing Day Tsunami or a terrorist attack. The issuing of emergency travel documents, electoral services and notary functions also form part of the consular services provided by our missions overseas. The 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations provides the framework for consular operations internationally.
Consular services are an increasingly high profile and resource intensive area of the Ministry’s work. More New Zealanders than ever before are travelling or living abroad in a wider range of countries. It requires skilful dealing with individuals often in stressful situations. This is the case not only for crises such as the Tsunami, but also for individual case management, where public expectations of the assistance the Government can provide are constantly rising. The Ministry operates a web-based advisory service for all travellers and our posts maintain registers of expatriate residents for emergency management purposes.
The Ministry takes a lead role in managing any response to a large-scale disaster overseas in which New Zealanders may be involved. Such a response may range from responding to enquiries from worried relatives, to leading an inter-agency Emergency Response Team to the affected area. The Ministry has the capacity to establish its own Crisis Call Centre, but it also has a formal arrangement with the Red Cross. Both were utilised for responses to the Tsunami and to the London Bombings. Keeping up with technological advances, and ensuring staff are trained to respond in crises, are key factors to success.
The Ministry is also taking a more proactive approach to preparations for events overseas where there are known to be large numbers of New Zealanders involved. This includes Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and the annual Gallipoli commemorations. It has become increasingly common to have contingency plans and Emergency Response Team personnel on standby for such events. This involves a high level of cooperation with other relevant agencies.
We work closely with our consular partners (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States). We rely on the United Kingdom to act on our behalf if necessary in countries where we are not represented. We are in the process of formalising an arrangement whereby we will act on behalf of the United Kingdom, on consular matters, in Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Ministry is putting in place a specialised IT system to improve the management of our individual consular cases. This will include internet-based registration of New Zealand citizens travelling or living overseas.
The Ministry is participating in the inter-agency process on planning for a flu pandemic, and chairs the External Working Group.
The Ministry engages with the wider public in a variety of ways aimed at improving understanding of the Government’s foreign policy priorities, informing our advice to Government, and providing opportunities to interested parties for contribute to foreign policy development.
We are seeking to improve the quality of the Ministry’s information provision and engagement, in order to meet the needs and expectations of a wide range of stakeholders. Ultimately this will help to improve our service delivery and ensure the Ministry’s policy advice takes better account of public views.
The Ministry works closely with the media, including regular background briefings and provision of Ministry comment for journalists on topical issues. We have regular dealings with universities and think-tanks on foreign and trade policy issues. We also provide speakers and sometimes financial support for university courses and institutes including the NZ Institute of International Affairs, the Centre for Strategic Studies, and the Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University in Wellington.
The Ministry’s website is our principal publishing medium and is attracting a steady increase in visitors. The website has become a favoured means of engaging with stakeholders, especially when two-way consultation is necessary. The site has been maintained to keep content up to date and to meet e-Government guidelines, but its structure and appearance are no longer allowing all its objectives to be met. A comprehensive redevelopment is about to begin. The Ministry also maintains 23 websites at its overseas posts. These act as a key promotional tool and a portal to the New Zealand Government sites. Our offshore post sites are also an important vehicle for delivering the Ministry’s consular services to New Zealanders abroad.
Promotion of New Zealand’s unique and creative cultural identity is achieved through the Cultural Diplomacy International Programme (CDIP), managed by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in cooperation with the Ministry and its overseas posts. The initial focus of CDIP is on Asia, especially North Asia, through projects designed to boost broader economic, tourism and diplomatic interests, such as assisting the NZ Symphony Orchestra at the Aichi Expo in Japan. More generally, New Zealand posts work on a ‘NZ Inc’ basis to assist visiting New Zealand cultural groups and in-country promotions.
New Zealand creativity and ingenuity is displayed internationally through the Ministry’s works of art holdings at our overseas posts. In August 2005 the Ministry completed a project, begun in 2001, to repatriate 59 high-value artworks from posts and gift them to galleries in New Zealand. The current programme focuses on installing vibrant, high-quality, low-cost New Zealand art at new posts, and improving holdings at other posts as funds allow. Recent acquisitions include photographs, prints, paintings, kete, carvings and glass art by artists such as Fatu Feu’u, Phil Dadson, Robin White, Simon Kaan, Michael Parekowhai, Glenn Jowitt and Emma Camden.
For 43 years the Ministry has produced the United Nations Handbook. This is the only comprehensive printed guide to the UN and is used extensively within and outside the UN system, including by journalists, business, libraries, academics and schools world-wide. The Ministry produces well-targeted printed information on our international trade and diplomatic work, including several recent publications on specific trade agreements and a special publication on Tokelau to be used in building international support for its development.
The Ministry is putting new and revised record management processes in place, including a new records management database that will enable faster and easier access to Ministry information for internal and external users alike.
In February this year the Ministry opened a small office in Auckland. The office aims to increase MFAT connection and interaction with a set of key Auckland constituencies and with the growing number of government departments represented in the city, particularly NZTE with whom the office is co-located. Early effort has gone into deepening the Ministry’s knowledge of the needs of Auckland’s business community and the work of the office has supported a strengthened outreach programme. Databases have been extended and regular briefings have been provided on issues important to business, particularly concerning free trade agreements in the Asia Pacific region. Encouraging greater media coverage of key foreign policy issues has also been an early focus.
The office encouraged the establishment of an Auckland Foreign Correspondents Club and this was recently launched by the President of Pakistan. A young journalists group has also been set up and receives regular briefings. The office is in regular contact with Auckland’s several cities, seeking to support and help focus their various international links and activities. There is also ongoing engagement with the Universities and with “Track Two” organisations a determined effort to increase scholarship on New Zealand’s core international interests. Finally the office engages with Auckland’s various ethnic communities and looks to draw on their various offshore connections. It has a staff of two officers.
