Andrew Straw: Labour's posturing does not help relations with US

As an American living in New Zealand, I can appreciate the sentiment of departing United States Ambassador Charles Swindells, who called for the relationship between the two countries to be repaired. Unfortunately, the Kiwi reaction was fairly knee-jerk.

There was stamping feet from the Labour Government that nuclear-powered ships will not be allowed. The tone of the posturing isn't very useful.

It seems the main things people think about with regard to the US are the Iraq war, non-entry to Kyoto, and nuclear-powered warships.

Ever so rarely is it mentioned that the US is one of New Zealand's main economic partners, or that people in New Zealand are huge consumers of US products.

If you turn on free TV, most of the programming is American, so there is at least an interest in the US.

Culturally, everyone knows that the place to be for high-quality and well-funded research is the US, where university lecturers and staff tend to be well paid and highly respected.

The US, on the other hand, definitely could learn a thing or two from New Zealand.

For instance, New Zealanders treasure their publicly funded national-health system and secondary-education programmes.

They are correct when they say they would rather not privatise everything as Americans do and leave people dangling.

A rising tide is supposed to raise all ships, not just the yachts.

Politically, New Zealand has the better method. Few citizens feel as if their votes are thrown away, as enough alternative parties exist to represent most every view. Americans are stuck with a first-past-the-post system etched into their Constitution which would be difficult to change.

Rapprochement between Kiwis and Americans might even encourage more MMP-style elections at the state level in the US. Change has to start somewhere.

Most Americans are genuinely interested in hearing how things could be different and better. What they don't like to hear is finger-wagging criticism and the cold shoulder.

Americans and New Zealanders want their economies to grow and for their people to have good jobs and peace.

They are proud and independent-minded people.

Americans and Kiwis should be warming to each other to help improve both societies and reach these goals together.

* Andrew Straw, a former lawyer and political activist, lives in Dunedin.