June 03, 2022
No room for paternalism in Pacific says Henare
Defence Minister Peeni Henare is confident New Zealand’s relationships with Pacific island nations are strong.
The Government is under fire for neglecting the Pacific after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s eight-country tour of the region seeking support for a new security pact similar to that it signed with the Solomon Islands.
Mr Henare says when he took on the role and indicates the region was his key priority, commentators said he was looking in the wrong direction.
He says Pacific countries know New Zealand is there in times of natural disaster and supporting climate change action.
“We can’t be paternalistic about this. Here in New Zealand, we talk about colonisation and what have you. We have to go in as a responsible partner and not as a paternalistic nation telling our Pacific partners what to do,” Minister Henare says.
Both he and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta remain in close contact with Pacific leaders.