Peters prioritises foreign policy

Winston Peters makes his first official speech in his Foreign Affairs role in Wellington today. Herald picture / Mark Mitchell

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has made his first major foreign policy speech on priorities for the next five years, saying some things cannot be set in concrete as New Zealand responds to world events it cannot control.

He notes globalisation, the changed environment since the September 11 terrorist attacks and the need for reform at the United Nations as trends likely to continue beyond 2006.

He speaks of the "dynamism" of Asia which he says is not just evident in economic terms but also in its emergence as a region "that is increasingly confident and outward looking".

Mr Peters outlined the Government's priorities for the next five years in a speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington.

He said that over that period, New Zealand's foreign policy engagement would take place in its bilateral relationships, regional diplomacy and in the multilateral arena.

New Zealand's key relationships included those with Australia, the United States, Pacific Island countries, Japan, China and Europe, other Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) members and those countries involved in the East Asia Summit.

He said New Zealand's relationship with Australia was "unique" and remained a cornerstone of foreign policy.

There was also potential for getting more mutual benefit from the relationship with the US.

"This will happen from recognition of interests we have in common, and willingness to support each other on key issues where we can," Mr Peters said.

He said New Zealand's relationships with the Pacific were a priority for the Government and for him personally. He would visit half of the 16 members of the Pacific Islands Forum by the middle of the year.

He mentioned the relationships with Japan, China and Europe and said New Zealand would put effort into strengthening bilateral relationships with other areas -- such as Latin American -- as resources permitted.

On regional diplomacy, Mr Peters said New Zealand would continue to use its participation in regional organisations as a "force multiplier".

On the need for reform at the UN, Mr Peters said New Zealand was committed to playing a constructive role in that.

In his speech, Mr Peters said international terrorism was a "plague" and he spoke of the increasing awareness of the inter-connectedness between poverty, governance and security.

Poverty indicators in the Pacific were deeply concerning, and thus were "our problem too".

He said the stakes were high as New Zealand sought to deepen its political and economic engagement with Asia.

"While we may be geographically distant from the centres of the worst conflict and human suffering, New Zealand has little choice but to play its part in responding to pressing security and development challenges in other parts of the world."

- NZPA