New Zealand Needs a Security Alliance Fast
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12:09 pm, April 25th, 2024 - 21 comments
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If only the world were as Helen Clark sees it. But Helen Clark is wrong.
In a recent panel discussion at Parliament, Helen Clark was forthright in opposition against New Zealand joining AUKUS.
Not entirely wrong. If we align ourselves too far into an Australia-United States-United Kingdom-Japan-India military arrangement, it may well be that China views us as simply too far opposed to China that China puts limits on our trade just as it did with Australia. We got the message. From 2013 to 2023 China has gone from taking 18% to now taking 27% of all of our exports. If China chose to choke our trade we would be on our knees in weeks.
Clark stated:
AUKUS is an agreement clearly aimed at China, our major trading partner.”
That is Helen Clark’s strongest point: do not offend our economic master.
Helen Clark made China our master. It was Helen Clark together with her Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff, our MFAT leads, and Fonterra, that encouraged our groundbreaking Free Trade Agreement with China. That was pre-Xi Jinping 2008, when Labour NZ, Labor UK, Bush Republicans, and Labor AU believed that the rationality of accelerated national development would require China and other authoritarian states to reason that since trade was the route to wealth, all countries would cooperate to trade and hence achieve wealth – and no other national interest mattered.
New Zealand’s lesson from the 2010s was that Fonterra as the captain of over 20% of our exports was inept and led us into disgrace, from which it took over a decade to recover and emerged diminished and aiming for bulk and volume over value. That is where the FTA and Prime Minister Clark’s Fonterra took the New Zealand economy.
So now we are indeed exceptionally vulnerable to China in economic terms. Clarks should accept it was the centre-left’s drive for all to be cured by trade that has put us here.
But is our trade and economic vulnerability a reason not to gear up into new security alliances?
It is entirely the reverse: with our increasing trade reliance on China, New Zealand needs security alliances that can stand up for us when we are bullied. Australia did not quake when it was bullied by China over trade not only because it had the economic power to resist, but also because it had the confidence of a strong security alliance with the United States.
The world is far more unstable than it was in 2008 when Clark left the Prime Ministership.
China is, since February 2023, far more aggressive to any other country coming near its newly militarised shoals within its Ten Dashed Line.
China has maintained a regular coastguard patrol around the Second Thomas Shoal since 2013 and has harassed Philippine resupply missions. Since 2022 it has sought to block resupply missions more regularly against the Philippines with increasingly aggressive tactics. Other countries that have run hard against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea include Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
New Zealand ought not need to be reminded of the Houthis choking off the Red Sea trade just a few weeks ago that states big and small need to recognise the importance of investing in maritime security, and to strengthening existing mechanisms to improve situational awareness and enhance common protocols. The Houthis and the Chinese may as well have been trading notes on grey-zone tactics. Responding requires not only clear arrangements with regional and global powers, but also broadened cooperation and capacity-building with local authorities and with the commercial shipping community that props our trade with China.
Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr is certainly correct when he points out that AUKUS is basically a military submarine deal that really does no favours for Australian indigenous military capacity-building. He uses typically florid Australian diplomatic language describing that arrangement.
It is also a flagrantly anti-French deal. Not only from the point of view that the submarine deal itself used existing Australia-US security arrangements to reneg on the French-US submarine deal. But also from the point of view that the security breakage was a reversal of what would have been a bridge towards strong cross-Pacific cooperation that simply reflected the common influence Australia and France had across most of the Pacific. France, Australia, New Zealand and the United States have pretty much locked up the Pacific between them.
Source: Map courtesy of CartoGIS Services, Scholarly Information Services, The Australian National University.
But Australia choosing the United States as its preferred military supplier simply reflects its longstanding security relationship with the United States. The United States, not France, has the capacity to force China through economic arm-twisting to understand the folly of continued military aggression. Indeed the UNited States alone has that power.
It would be great if all Pacific small island states were simply awaiting convincing entreaties from New Zealand and Australia to bring them all into one grand and strong voice that generated stronger wealth and ambition and labour mobility. The Pacific Island Forum might have been imagined once to do that, but in reality it’s done the minimum of being a good diplomatic and aid dialogue. That’s it.
Even the Federated States of Micronesia prefer to stand in the middle of the Great Power see-saw and trade the weight of both sides.
Small Pacific states that default their preference to New Zealand or Australia or the United States are instead either already set, or they are ready to play one off against the other. A neutral rational dialogue for the common interests of Pacific trade and development is a mirage.
It would also be great if the world were in the same or even similar levels of security and democracy and secure trade that we were in 2008 when Helen Clark was in power. We aren’t. The Russian invasion of the Ukraine is getting worse not better and more likely to expand, not shrink. The Hamas invasion of Israel and Iranian attack on Israel and Israel’s massive response has no plan to stabilise or de-escalate. Same with China in the South China sea.
We also need to take China’s Xi at his word when he is clear with the US that he will require Taiwan to re-unify with China.
We should have listened when Hitler said he would take the Sudetenland. We should have listened when Stalin threatened to take over Eastern Europe. We ought to have listened when Putin said he was going to take out Ukraine by force. It’s not like they don’t warn us. Just take them at their word and act accordingly. Same with Xi.
Those were all countries acting in the national interest to defend and expand their power, not increase trade.
New Zealand is a kite dancing in a hurricane. Sorry Helen and Bob, New Zealand now has more national interests than trade alone. We are well beyond the peak of peace from the rule of international law.
It may well be that there is insufficient national interest to sign up to AUKUS Pillar 2. Maybe the French will generate an alternative proposal for our common security. Best of luck with that alternative now that our core ally Australia has smashed that relationship so badly.
Right now the question isn’t whether we can continue along the same primrose path of economic rationality leading to the triumph of permanent peace. Right now the question is: who will defend us when the military chaos now expanding in the world finally hits hard in our region, because that is what is really happening.
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Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...1 day ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...1 day ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...1 day ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...1 day ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...1 day ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...3 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...6 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...1 week ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...1 week ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...6 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...6 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...7 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...7 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...8 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...9 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...10 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...10 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...11 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...12 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...15 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...1 day ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...2 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...2 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...2 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...3 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...3 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...3 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...6 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...6 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...1 hour ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...1 hour ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...2 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...3 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...4 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...4 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...5 hours ago - New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...5 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...5 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...5 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...5 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...5 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...6 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...6 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...6 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...6 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...6 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...8 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...8 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...8 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...9 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...9 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...9 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...10 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...10 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...11 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...12 hours ago
- NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand
Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...12 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...12 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...13 hours ago
- Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities. Fixing this benefits everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Peter Anthony Pitt, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (Faculty of Science), University of Sydney An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities. In Australia, for example, 0.5% of Indigenous ...14 hours ago
- Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Cricket originated in England, but has been spread worldwide by British soldiers and settlers in the past few hundred years. It is now the second most popular sport in ...14 hours ago
- Disinformation and deepfakes played a part in the US election. Australia should expect the same
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Barnes, Associate professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock As America takes stock after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, it’s worth highlighting the AI-generated fake photos, videos and audio shared during the campaign. A slew ...14 hours ago
- Is thunderstorm asthma becoming more common?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kira Morgan Hughes, PhD Candidate in Allergy and Asthma, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University When spring arrives, so do warnings about thunderstorm asthma. But a decade ago, most of us hadn’t heard of it. So where did thunderstorm asthma ...14 hours ago
- Overwhelmed by ever more clothing donations, charities are exporting the problem. Local governments ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yassie Samie, Postdoctoral Researcher in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University anna.spoka/Shutterstock What happens to your clothes after you don’t want them any more? Chances are, you will donate them to op shops run by a charity organisation. There are more ...14 hours ago
- Friendly fire: a nuclear push by allies at COP29 poses a sticky problem for Albanese
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland IndustryAndTravel/Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t see this coming. At the global COP29 climate talks in Baku, the Australian government was indirectly criticised by two allies, the United States and the ...14 hours ago
- Nugget Is Dead brings queer love, multiculturalism and Aussie flair to the Christmas movie formula
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hart, Associate Professor, Film Screen & Animation, Queensland University of Technology Julia Firak Stan’s new Christmas film Nugget is Dead is a colourful production that follows the rules of the seasonal genre film to a tee – with an Aussie ...14 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Should I cut contact with my ex-stepdad?
My parents are finally getting divorced. So why do I feel like my stepdad’s feelings are still my problem? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera My parents recently announced their separation. This in itself isn’t a problem. I’ve already gone through this once before in my early childhood, so ...14 hours ago
- New Zealand Drops In Global Ranking On Climate Action
If the government won’t hold polluters to account, then people will. People are increasingly taking to the streets and the courtrooms, putting their bodies on the line to shut down polluting industries. This will only escalate further unless New ...14 hours ago
- Government’s fiscal policy dragging out recession, economists say
Slashing the budget deficit and reducing public debt are making matters worse for households and businesses, they say. ...14 hours ago
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Your argument might have more validity if the deal was not being sold to us by none other than Scott Morrison. Run a bloody mile and then add on a few more.
Australia has long been the US’s Pacific Deputy Dog, and as time goes by the huge projected nuke sub bill and obligations may not go down well with many Australians.
Australia is not universally liked around Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia for some obvious reasons, including mineral extraction and other exploitation, and using their neighbours territories as penal colonies and psychological torture centres for asylum seekers.
Hard to believe I am reading this piece. It is like something Gerald Hensley could have penned. Looking for enemies to defend NZ’s entanglement with 5 Eyes to the bitter end–when an independent foreign policy and mutually beneficial bi-lateral trade and cultural agreements would be more useful.
The only warmongering Aotearoa NZ needs to be into is a bigger defence spend on coastal patrol boats and helicopters.
Some need to get it through their scones that no one is coming to save this country. We do that ourselves by decoupling from US Imperialism and having friendly relations with as many nations as possible. The US will not even accept NZ Dairy and Meat in quantity so do you really think they are going to send their military down here if China offers to build a few new wharves or something?
So you think that coastal patrol boats and limited range helicopters can protect the sea lanes that all of our incoming and outgoing trade depend upon….
Obviously you feel that they are suitable for surviving in high seas, monsoon conditions, and in the kind of hostile conditions that our trade routes traverse? Because they cannot.
You appear to be thinking like a short-term fool. Even getting those patrol boats and helicopters takes time, a lot of it – typically more than a decade from conception to full deployment. If we took your viewpoint that the only thing we have to protect is in our economic zone close to our shoreline. Well then we just leave ourselves vulnerable to getting trade routes closed or disrupted from something unexpected in the future, and having no capability to do a damn thing about it.
Or do you think that we should give up trade and become a hermit kingdom? I really don't think that many others here would agree with you on that.
Or what exactly?
We currently do those long trips with warships mostly to friendly nations along our trade routes, or those willing to support the agreements about the international trade. Ones who help us suppress piracy and who are as interested in trade as we are.
Almost all of the trade routes we use have at one time of another been subject to various forms of piracy or local conflicts that have disrupted trade. If you look at maps of the trade routes to and from NZ, you'll find that most of them wind up wandering through areas that have been zones for piracy or where war zones could interfere with trade.
Sure China in its militancy against its neighboring nations is a worry for us right now. So will be the increasing militancy from the neighboring nations in their defensive positions. But the sabre rattling isn't the only problem that causes in the future.
Generally such periods of political and military uncertainty have also cause increases in private or state sanctioned piracy and crime on trade routes. Happened in the horn of Africa as Ethiopia and Somalia dropped into war, famine and insurrection. Happens each time there is war around the Red Sea. Historically it also happens up around the Malaysian peninsula, near the Chinese coast… well just about anywhere at some point in the last few hundred years.
Navies in most countries have a normal operational role of protecting trade, and a secondary role in defense of nation when required. The same kind of vessels are used for both – and they are seldom coastal.
I fully agree. Just have a problem that you don't appear to have ever bothered to think about what is required for that. And this is probably why..
You appear to be obsessed by this. To the point that you cannot decouple your brain from obsessing about it and to get around to looking at what we actually need for defense of our interests. Such a short-sighted self-obsessed viewpoint.
You also appear to think that being remote entitles NZ to stick our collective head up the countries warm remote arse and forget about dealing with all potential threats to our society. Which mostly just shows exactly how out of touch you are with how our economy operates, potential threats to that, and what kind of security that we need to have to reduce the risks over the next few decades.
It'd be nice if you could pull your head out occasionally to deal with reality.
With all due respect to a person of your knowledge in matters military, NZ does not have a huge roster of Navy Power…albeit some good work has been done in our region by some of these vessels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_Royal_New_Zealand_Navy_ships
And as for the Airforce…they may need to buy or lease a private jet so the PM can make it to meetings with some dignity. Airforce transport means bigger parties of officials and media can tag along with the PM but it needs to be reliable.
More defence spending is required for our long narrow country, but old alliances will change with the increasing international North/South divide. Armed neutrality and membership of the Non Aligned Movement is where I would like to see Aotearoa NZ head.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement
This type of view will raise the blood pressure of old school geo political adherents, but buying into AUKUS “Pillar whatev”, and continuing snooping for the US as per the GCSB/NZSIS (on a sneaky basis) just puts a nice big target on our shaky isles.
Right. So we should just accept preparations for another landing at Gallipoli. Because that was so heroic. And we were doing our bit and taking responsibility for our position in the Anglosphere.
Our reality is distance and isolation. It is our reality both in trade and in military affairs. We should embrace it and use the time and space to develop an independent foreign policy. We don't need to be dragged around by morally bankrupt and selfish fading powers
Bizarre take on what has happened since 1948.
1947-49 Arab invasion of Israel
1967 More of that
1973 and again
2023 and again
The Israelis attacked first in 1967 (and were not allowed to in 1973).
Hamas didn't exist prior to 1987
If you mean fast in Chinese time, then not till Trump's political career is over. A one man "Iraq" mistake to avoid (he bullies western partners and that might include AUKUS Pillar 2).
We have the important security alliance already, with Oz. Oz has one with the USA. There is also NATO+.
Being part of AUKUS is not being part of a security alliance. Even QUAD (India, Oz, Jpan and USA) is about co-operation to contain China, if required, it is not a formal alliance.
Our decision will be based on
1.the need sustain interoperability with Oz.
2.economic advantages from being part of Pillar 2
3.supporting the development of a collective capacity (akin to the build up that led to peace talks and end of the Cold War in the 1980's).
If trade deals accompanied security deals, it would be easier to keep alliances.
NZ has to trade with other countries, is expected to side with the US militarily, but the US is generally isolationist when it comes to things like trade deals with us, leaving us no option but to trade with other countries, including the ones the Americans don't like.
That puts us in a very difficult position.
The guest post the other day that seems to have provoked this current post mentioned a figure of 3 trillion of trade through the South China Sea.
I wonder what this enormous trade consists of? I would expect that a large amount of this is the huge amount of exporting and importing to and from the very large manufacturing base that is China. It would seem that proposing Aukus as a means to stop China from closing this trade route is something straight out of a Monty Python skit.
We know that the US is hell bent on trying to get China to reduce its exporting for the reason that their production is so efficient that the US cannot compete and they are starting to realise that they will never get financial control of the Chinese means of production.
The only way the US can have any effect on Chinese exporting or productive capacity is to throttle shipping in the South China Sea. Their tried and true method is to encourage conflict. To this end, we witness their nonsensical encouragement of the Phillipines in their disputes with China over sovereignty of islands that historically have always been regarded as Chinese by western powers. Similarly with arming Taiwan even as they declare that Taiwan is part of one China.
Throttling the South China Seas by the US and Aukus will wreck havoc on the world economy. The Yemeni blockade of the Red Sea will be a minor inconvenience in comparison.
But what is even more surreal is that all this posturing will have the least effect on China and Asia. They at least will be able to compensate through land based trade. The most affected will be the west which will be badly caught with their trousers down having almost completely shut down their ability to manufacture anything.
Any trade risk to shipping, from turning atolls into islands and then building bases on them, would be related to trade going to South Korea and Japan, not China.
As per Houthi not targeting all shipping through the Red Sea.
Another factor is China might be guaranteeing it could not be the victim of sanctions imposed by a blockade (during any military confrontation over Taiwan).
Otherwise there is obvious trade inter-dependence.
Other than a sub-plot to a struggle over Taiwan, the issue is more about economic zones and resources.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands
Well if thats the case, a battle over who has access to resources, AUKUS is doubly ridiculous.
Sure, which is why a resolution over an autonomous Taiwan within China is sort of important.
A commonwealth would fulfill the aspirations of both China and Taiwan.
Talking of land-based Chinese trade, the China Belt and Road initiative includes land routes, as well as sea route development, for reasons of both strategic trade and military influence. One reason does not preclude the other.
The amount of resources being committed to maintain Taiwan's independence is going to be vast, if this indicates the extent of Chinese determination/singular focus.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350258059/china-developing-space-weapons-breathtaking-pace
At some point the cost is only valid if there is reward from realising imperial standing.
That usually involves centralising economic activity/first claim on resources.
Taiwan has chips, China has the rare minerals.
If there is a balance of power – two separate spheres co-existing, the West will need to secure chip independence and its alternative rare mineral supplies.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2023/china-deep-sea-mining-military-renewable-energy/
Sorry. To align with the US, the chief enabler of the Gaza genocide is morally despicable.
And why would China want to choke off trade routes in the South China sea, with most trade coming to and from China going through those same trade routes.