A step backwards

Opinion

It seemed more than a little unfair when New Zealand’s new Prime Minister Jenny Shipley demoted Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign and Pacific Island Affairs and Trade, from No. 3 slot in the Cabinet ranks to lowly 14th place when she took over at the end of last year.

His relegation came after he had spearheaded a breakthrough in the Bougainville conflict that has plagued the Pacific region for nearly a decade and put the troubled island on a path to peace. It was, by any reckoning, a major achievement and one that even provoked some fanciful talk of nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But while McKinnon’s, initiative drew fulsome praise outside the country, at home he was paying the price for loyalty to the National Party’s former leader and Prime Minister for seven years, Jim Bolger.

His demotion was driven by Shipley’s desire to present a new look administration in preparation for next year’s general elec tion. Bound to keep Bill Birch, another old Bolger ally, in the Finance Minister’s job at No. 4, she deemed McKinnon’s front bench seat dispensable.

Lockwood Smith, the Minister for International Trade, accom panied McKinnon on the downward slide, but in going from No. 9 to No. 12, he surprisingly ranks higher than his much more experienced colleague.

Domestic political considerations may have dictated expedi ence, but it was inevitable Shipley’s moves would be interpreted at home and abroad as indicating dwindling concern for, or inter est in, foreign affairs and trade.

She denied this, but at the same time made it clear her govern ment’s priorities in the lead-up to the election were in the field of social policy.

This is all very well, but it is surely unwise for a geographical ly isolated country dependent on international trade to be seen as downgrading its foreign political and economic relations. And that is certainly how McKinnon’s relegation was perceived in some quarters abroad.

Most countries rank their foreign ministers in the top handful of Cabinet members.

Regardless of domestic politics, few place them in the bottom third of the list because they, more than any other minister, are the personification of their nation abroad.

They have the most contact with foreign states, international

organisations and their leaders and sta tus, prestige and rank are singularly important in the rarefied atmosphere of

diplomacy.

Foreign Affairs have, to all intents and

purposes, been downgraded in New Zealand at a time when the open global economy has become more than a buzz word. In this new environment. New Zealand will need to cultivate and retain all the friends it can get.

Outside of wartime or the imminent threat of war, diplomacy has probably never been so important.

As Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee reported recently: “New Zealand has much to gain from maintaining and enhancing its role as an active and fully engaged member of the international community.”

With exports of goods and services accounting for about 30 per cent of New Zealand’s Gross Domestic product, the committee noted that global competition for markets was intensifying and the demands of the most rewarding markets are increasing.

It warned that markets were far from static a timely warning following last year’s financial and currency crisis in Asia, which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand’s total exports and 30 per cent of imports.

“This makes it important for New Zealand not to rely solely on any single economy or group of economies.

We need to be able to adjust to quite substantial change in the future patterns of our international economic linkages,” the com mittee said.

“Like an investor who wisely spreads the sources of risk. New Zealand has a clear interest in retaining and enhancing a balanced global trading and investment profile.”

No foreign Minister, whatever his ranking, can ensure that, but one with high standing in his own government and consequent status overseas is in a good position to develop and maintain the relationships that help.

That is but one reason for rejecting any policy that smacks, in reality or perception, of insularity.

There is no shortage of global issues that concern New Zealand, in its own self-interest or as a responsible member of the international community.

A number, including environmental problems, international crime and, as in the case of Bougainville, peacekeeping opera tions, are important in terms of New Zealand’s relations with the Pacific.

As the Pacific Island states know only too well, it can be diffi cult for a small country to have its voice heard and respected.

Over the years, McKinnon has earned a hearing and respect for New Zealand and, by proxy, the South Pacific. He personally is not about to lose that; the personal contacts he has made are not likely to be lost overnight.

But the fact remains that New Zealand appears to many to have taken a step back from active involvement in international affairs, or at least to have downgraded in interest. With the presidents of the United States, Russia and China due to come here next year for a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation group ing, thereby putting New Zealand under concentrated internation al scrutiny as never before, it is an impression Jenny Shipley will eventually have to counter. ■

David Barber

Wellington