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To New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.

“The Major Economic and Foreign Policy Issues Facing New Zealand 2012-17”

The theme of your seminar is foreign policy challenges for the next five years.

I thought I might address these challenges against the background of some of the achievements of the past three years – expressed, of course, in an appropriately modest fashion.

Dr Michael Wesley,

Distinguished guests,

This important conference takes place against the backdrop of the 40th anniversary Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting.

Your gathering brings together some of the best economic, business, academic and civil society brains in the region.

The New Zealand Government very much appreciates the energy and commitment of the Lowy Institute in bringing it together.

• Prime Minister
• Mayor Len Brown and other city leaders
• Ministerial colleagues Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman
• Local MP Nikki Kaye and other MPs
• Bernard Lapasset, directors of RWCL
• Brian Roche and directors of RNZ 2011
• Ladies and gentlemen

This afternoon we want to introduce you to the Cloud and to the programme that will run within it for the period of the Rugby World Cup.

This is also an opportunity to thank the sector representatives that are our partners in this venture.

The protest movements that have swept through the Middle East and Northern Africa since December last year have collectively overturned the landscape of the Arab world.

Some have said that the impact of the Arab Spring on world affairs is on par with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

So what has changed?

At the big picture level, there is widespread support for genuine democratic and economic reform.

We are operating in an environment where old assumptions are no longer valid.

Thank you for the opportunity to make some introductory remarks at the commencement of this annual foreign policy school.

I want to make a number of comments about the role of science in the conduct of New Zealand’s foreign policy relationships, and about the importance of science in the Government’s ambition to lift foreign exchange earnings from 30% of our GDP to over 40%.

That objective, in my view, is critical if New Zealand is to become a significantly wealthier nation in the decades ahead.

On 4 September 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, causing widespread damage.

Fortunately on that occasion there were no casualties.

Then on 22 February this year, a violent aftershock struck the city centre at lunchtime.

Among the 181 victims were many students from the Asia-Pacific region, the largest number coming from Japan. 

I take this opportunity on Japanese soil to express our deepest sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you about some of the key features of New Zealand’s foreign policy, and in particular some key areas in which they intersect with the interests of the United States and provide a basis for closer cooperation in the years immediately ahead.

I am in Washington this week to continue the wide-ranging dialogue between New Zealand and the United States about areas in which we can work together and share perspectives.

Mr Cunningham, Honourable Ministers, Parliamentary colleagues, Excellencies and members of the diplomatic corps, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Murray McCully, it is my honour to respond to the Chargé’s toast on this important occasion celebrating Europe Day.

As New Zealand and the European Union enter our 51st year of diplomatic relations, our links with Europe remain strong.

On August 8th 1915, New Zealand soldiers reached the summit of Chunuk Bair, where we stand today, and saw, for the first time, the waters of the Dardanelles.

Men of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Maori Contingent fought bravely in the advance to Chunuk Bair.

Daring night assaults under heavy fire prepared the way for the advance of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade towards the heights.

It was the Wellington Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone, that made the final push as the sun rose on August 8th.

Just before dawn, in the grey mist of the early morning, 96 years ago, the first ANZAC soldiers jumped into the cold waters here at what is now called ANZAC Cove.

Their orders were to seize part of the Sari Bair range behind you.

History records that this endeavour was misconceived and doomed to failure.

Yet from that failure, and the tragic loss of life it caused, was born a legend – the ANZAC legend.

That legend is today the foundation of the unique and inseparable bond between the peoples of Australia and New Zealand.

Thank you for the opportunity to make some introductory remarks at the commencement of what I regard as a very important symposium.

May I start by commending the organisers and sponsors for bringing together a very constructive programme and some speakers of the highest calibre.

The rise of China and the growth of its influence on regional and global affairs has been one of truly remarkable phenomena of the past decade.

For New Zealand, the implications have been profound.

I want to commence tonight by thanking the Institute for its kind invitation to me to make this address.

The Institute extended the invitation for the very best of reasons: I suggested to them that they should do so.

I, in turn, made the suggestion for the very best of reasons: I wanted an opportunity to set out, for an informed audience, the sort of challenges that we confront in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the next few years and give some indication of the approach we are taking to meeting these challenges.

“The road ahead: shaping the next decade of US/NZ cooperation”

May I start by extending a warm welcome to Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell; Members of the United States Congress, distinguished delegates from both this and the other side of the Pacific.

The first decade of the 21st century ended on a high note for US/NZ relations with a successful visit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and signature of the Wellington Declaration on 4 November 2010.

Secretary General, your Excellencies, honoured guests, speakers and participants who have travelled to join us from across the Pacific, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me to address you today.

I want to take this opportunity to speak to you about the process we have underway to address some of the priorities of the Pacific region.

The Key Government was elected with a mandate to commit a greater share of our resources to our own region and shift the focus of our development assistance to give a greater emphasis to sustainable economic development.

Mr President; Excellencies; Distinguished delegates.

It is an honour to lead New Zealand's delegation this year.

Conference Chair Dr Robert Patman; ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your invitation to address this annual event.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully's speech to Kea's Beijing Chapter on Wednesday, March 24.  

Mr Speaker,

I wish to take a brief opportunity to update the House on recent developments in New Zealand's relationship with Fiji.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the invitation to address you today.

2010 is an auspicious year for my first visit to Viet Nam.

United States Ambassador David Huebner; Lady Hillary; Mayor Parker, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you to the Swedish Institute of International Affairs for inviting me to speak this evening.  My topic tonight is New Zealand's relations with both Asia and Europe, and our potentia

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the invitation to say a few words to you this evening.

NZ and the EU: a new relationship