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As a small independent country New Zealand relies on an open and peaceful world and international cooperation to achieve its goals. Diplomacy is our main vehicle for ensuring an external environment that is stable and rules-based, and for opening up opportunities to pursue our trading and other objectives. An increasingly complex and globalised world requires a Ministry that is skilled, strategic, and agile; able to identify risks and opportunities and develop policy responses so that New Zealand can influence developments in its favour and not be limited to reactive options. In the present global recession diplomacy also has a key role to play in managing New Zealand’s international relations and prospects to ensure New Zealand is well placed for the eventual recovery.
This will include engaging in ongoing evaluation and review to ensure our activities and interventions are sharply focused on the Government’s priorities and New Zealand’s core interests, strengths and capability. The Ministry is also committed to contributing to the Government’s overriding requirement to deliver better value for money from public expenditure.
Over the period 2009-2012 the Government’s priorities include intensifying efforts to secure the long-term security and economic growth of the South Pacific and key partner countries in the region; pursuing a rich agenda of trade negotiations that will deliver growth opportunities for the future; strengthening the promotion of New Zealand goods and services, and opportunities in trade and investment; working within the multilateral system to achieve New Zealand goals particularly in the areas of security, resource diplomacy, consular assistance and climate change; and enhancing the operational effectiveness of Official Development Assistance. Well-conceived and well-executed bilateral diplomacy will remain at the core of New Zealand’s international relations.
In all our areas of work, we work closely with other departments and agencies, reflecting the increasing international dimension of many of the Government’s domestic policies. A particular priority over the immediate period will be identifying the ways in which we can re-prioritise NZ Inc activities offshore to focus on those which are crucial to bringing New Zealand through the recession and achieving value for money from the Government’s offshore network.
The following pages explain in detail how we will pursue these goals. Essentially, our job is to use our international connections to ensure New Zealand is positioned on the right side of trends that impact on the Government’s goal of enhancing the security and prosperity of all New Zealanders. The Ministry will advise and support our Minsters and other New Zealand sectors as they engage with international events, personalities and organisations. Our heads of Mission and other New Zealand public servants offshore will capably represent and defend our interests under direction from the Ministry. This total effort impacts over the long term on the security and prosperity of many New Zealanders and their families.
I am very grateful to all Ministry staff, at home and abroad, whose commitment, professionalism, and dedication will ensure delivery of the Government’s priorities in these extraordinarily difficult times.
Simon Murdoch
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
4 May 2009
In signing this statement, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information contained in the Statement of Intent for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This information has been prepared in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989. It is also consistent with the proposed appropriations set out in the Appropriations (2009/10 Estimates) Bill, as presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with section 13 of the Pubic Finance Act 1989, and with existing appropriations and financial authorities.
| Simon Murdoch | Paul Helm | |
| Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Director of Finance | |
| 4 May 2009 |
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