Doubts on Apec meeting

By John Armstrong

political editor

Some Government officials questioned the value of New Zealand's hosting this week's meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) business ministers when the $700,000-plus event was being organised last year.

Cabinet documents obtained under the Official Information Act also show the Treasury worried that the meeting could promote business assistance policies which will embarrass New Zealand's more hands-off approach to helping local enterprises.

The three-day meeting began in Christchurch yesterday, attended by at least 19 Apec country ministers, with responsibilities for policies affecting small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Costs of hosting the meeting are estimated at between $700,000 and $965,000.

It is one of a string of ministerial talk shops scheduled ahead of September's summit of Apec leaders in Auckland.

The Minister for Enterprise and Commerce, Max Bradford, yesterday described the meeting as an important opportunity for high-ranking ministers to discuss issues surrounding the economies of Apec.

But ministers were warned last August that elements of the meeting's agenda were at odds with Government policy, such as initiatives promoting concessional and export finance to help small business.

The papers, issued last week by anti-Apec campaigner Aziz Choudry, said New Zealand would have to "carefully manage" the results of the Christchurch meeting.

The Treasury noted that New Zealand was already hosting an Apec business symposium in Auckland in June.