N.Z. ‘losing Pacific favour’

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 6

N.Z. ‘losing Pacific favour’

An Australian member of Parliament says he was told by officials in Wellington earlier this year that New Zealand was losing favour in the South Pacific.

Mr David Charles, a Labour member of Parliament from Victoria, is attending this week’s joint meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and defence. He told the meeting that “high up” Government officials had told him while visiting Wellington in April that Polynesian countries were starting to look to Australia, rather than New Zealand.

Mr Charles suggested to the New Zealand members of Parliament, led by Ms Sonja Davies, that New Zealand’s responsibilities to the South-West Pacific required a bluewater navy. If New Zealand did not accept

Anzac ships, what ships did it see itself acquiring, he asked.

Ms Davies said she did not want to get into a slanging match about New Zealand’s role in the South Pacific.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, did not agree that New Zealand was losing favour, she said.

Ms Davies said New Zealand wanted a ship which served a variety of purposes. These included fisheries patrol work and disaster relief.

“We want a ship that can work in with the Australians,” she said. Cost was the final determinant.

The Junior Government Whip, Mr Trevor Mallard, told the joint committee meeting that New Zealand’s and Australia’s defence and strategic outlooks differed considerably.

“I think it’s fair to say we look much more to the Pacific than Asia,” he said. However, Mr Doug Graham, (Nat., Remuera) said his view was that the interests of New Zealand and Australian were the same. It was strategically important for both countries to have a global role. Mr Geoff Braybrooke (Lab., Napier) said New Zealand did not wish to become the policeman of the Pacific. It had a different view of defence from Australia and a limited budget. New Zealand was, however, very pro-Australian. “Make no mistake about that.” The New Zealand committee, which also includes Mr Maurice McTigue (Nat., Timaru) ends its visit to Canberra today.