Peter Dunne: New Zealand’s foreign policy

The rock and the hard place that has defined New Zealand’s foreign policy for the last decade or so is getting ever sharper and more uncomfortable.

Since the thaw in relations with the United States after the 1980s nuclear row, New Zealand has been a reluctant friend. Consistent with what it holds to be an independent foreign policy, New Zealand has supported the United States on some issues and opposed it on others. For example, it provided significant military and operational support to the United States-led Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in the early 2000s but opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003 because it had not had the approval of the United Nations.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 1/7/23

Mahuta (reiterating NZ’s anti-nuclear position in world affairs) says we are a small country but we have sharp teeth

Speaking as Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, Nanaia Mahuta addressed a conference (unidentified in her speech notes) on the theme of “Populism and Global Politics”.

While discussing foreign policy challenges and the threats from populism, Mahuta said a crucial distinction must be made between populism and popularity.