South Africa back in from the cold

Helen Clark and South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka discussed cultural links during their talks. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

South Africa is opening a High Commission in New Zealand next year, two decades after the Lange Labour Government swept to power in 1984 and closed the republic's consulate.

The announcement was made by South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka after talks in Auckland yesterday with Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The Deputy President was on a two-day visit to New Zealand.

She said strengthening relations between the two countries and the capacity of the South Africa High Commission in Australia to service New Zealand were behind the decision.

About 45,000 South Africans live in New Zealand.

Helen Clark chuckled that South Africa had a consulate in New Zealand in the "bad old days" of apartheid, bringing a quip from Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka that "we want the real thing now".

Helen Clark welcomed the move. "South Africa is a good friend and we are working on so many issues together on the international stage, let alone the policy interests that South Africa has in a lot of the domestic policies of New Zealand."

Veteran anti-apartheid campaigner John Minto said it was appropriate for South Africa to open a High Commission in New Zealand.

Both countries followed similar economic policies but he noted that although "the colour of the leadership has changed from white to black very little has changed for black South Africans".

Helen Clark said the two countries would start talks on a co-production agreement for the film industries and were keen to enter into a non-binding cultural agreement.

She said a lot of discussion focused on South Africa's needs for skills, including practical work experience for young South Africans.

One idea being talked about was setting up a working holiday scheme for young South Africans to take advantage of.