Podcasts about foreign minister nanaia mahuta

Te Pāti Māori wants the incoming and outgoing Governments to use the country's strong international voice to insist on an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. And they say the government should be prepared to kick the Israeli ambassador out if the fighting does not stop and humanitarian aid corridors into Gaza are not opened.  Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta declined our request for an interview, citing the constraints of the current caretaker government provisions.  While National - which also said no to our request to speak to their foreign policy spokesperson Gerry Brownlee - referred to Christopher Luxon's statement that the government should be speaking for all New Zealanders on the situation.  Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer spoke to Corin Dann.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has faced criticism over a delay in her condemnation of the militant group Hamas's deadly attack on Israel. The Minister Nanaia Mahuta speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6338706508112

Calls have come for New Zealand to use its voice as a war breaks out in the Middle East.   Dozens are believed to have been captured by Palestinian militant group Hamas which has launched an attack on Gaza.  The Government says more than 600 Israelis have been killed in attacks from Gaza.  It's believed that as many as 100 soldiers and civilians were kidnapped when Palestinian fighters crossed the border and raided communities. Palestinian officials say retaliatory Israeli air strikes have killed at least 370 people in the Gaza Strip, with 2,200 wounded.  Democracy Project Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says it was appropriate for Chris Hipkins to condemned the attacks.  He says there was no condemnation in the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta's earlier statement.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A high-level meeting between New Zealand and the UN nuclear watchdog took place on Monday, after a controversial go-ahead for dumping treated nuclear radioactive water into the Pacific. After a two-year review, the International Atomic Energy Agency have given it the green light - stating the release - over 30 to 40 years - will have a negligible impact on the environment. The water was tainted during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta sat down with International Atomic Agency Director General, Rafael Grossi, but the meeting was closed to the media. Senior lecturer at Auckland University, Dr David Krofcheck, joined Kerre Woodham to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta discusses the future of NZ's foreign policy and AUKUS. ACT Leader David Seymour and Green spokesperson for Revenue Chloe Swarbrick debate the future of NZ's tax policy.  Māori data specialist, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, discusses the inequality genetic testing can impose on Māori and Pacifica communities.   Appearing on Newshub Nation's political panel, Victoria University Associate Professor in Politics Lara Greaves, Former National press secretary Janet Wilson, and Newsroom's national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has been invited to the NATO Leaders' Summit in Lithuania, but is yet to decide if he will attend.  Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took part in last year's event, becoming the first New Zealand leader to address the summit.  NATO has invited its Indo-Pacific partners - Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, to attend the event in July.  It follows two visits to New Zealand by NATO officials in recent weeks.  Also, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta last week attended a NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels where she was quizzed on Aotearoa's military alliance.  She also made comments on how Russia's invasion of Ukraine had changed the global landscape.   

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has returned from her visit to China. Nanaia Mahuta used her meeting with China's foreign minister to raise concerns about China's human rights abuses, developments South China Sea, and China's ties to Russia. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the machinery of Government on both sides needs to work these discussions through and more information will come to light. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has returned from her visit to China. Nanaia Mahuta used her meeting with China's foreign minister to raise concerns about China's human rights abuses, developments South China Sea, and China's ties to Russia. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the machinery of Government on both sides needs to work these discussions through and more information will come to light. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is in China for the first  face to face  meeting with her new counter-part, Qin Gang, in Beijing.  It's the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.  Meanwhile - thousands of kilometres to the West - China's president Xi Jinping has been meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.  Overnight President Xi described Russia and China as "strategic partners" and "great neighbouring powers". Otago University associate professor Nicholas Khoo is a specialist in Chinese foreign policy  He spoke to Kim Hill.

Trade, TikTok and Ukraine are expected to be top-of-mind during a diplomatic visit between New Zealand and China. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is today on-route to Beijing to meet with her Chinese counterpart. Contemporary China Research Centre Director, Jason Young, told Kate Hawkesby they'll likely oppose New Zealand banning TikTok on diplomatic phones. And New Zealand may push back on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the same time Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with Putin. But Jason Young expects the main discussion to be about economic development. He says 33 percent of our trade goes into China, and it's important that carries on when the economy looks as it's softening. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has to hold the balance between trade and politics with her Chinese counterpart today. It'll be the country's first diplomatic visit to Beijing in more than three years. The visit comes at the same time Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Russia for talks with Vladimir Putin. New Zealand China Council Executive Director, Alistair Crozier, told Mike Hosking the issue of Ukraine will come up, but the visit is economically important. He says a visit by the minister to pursue foreign policy objectives is part of the trade relationship between New Zealand and China. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to China on Tuesday for two days. This will be China's first visit from a Cabinet minister since 2019, and Nanaia Mahuta will be meeting new Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. Nanaia Mahuta's trip comes as China's President Xi Jinping travels to Moscow to support Russian President Vladimir Putin. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the timing of this trip is a coincidence, as the Government has been looking to arrange a meeting between Foreign Ministers for some time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to China on Tuesday for two days. This will be China's first visit from a Cabinet minister since 2019, and Nanaia Mahuta will be meeting new Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. Nanaia Mahuta's trip comes as China's President Xi Jinping travels to Moscow to support Russian President Vladimir Putin. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the timing of this trip is a coincidence, as the Government has been looking to arrange a meeting between Foreign Ministers for some time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod - Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta meets her Japanese counterpart; Greens co-leader Marama Davidson is with us for a Green perspective on the events of the week; no power and no way out - 15 days after Cyclone Gabrielle, residents of a cut off Hawke's Bay settlement say they feel forgotten and almost 400 mls of rain in a day.. a Northland farmer describes saving his home and his herd. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On the first anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia's ongoing actions continue to threaten global stability and "impact Aotearoa New Zealand", according to Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. The country's envoy has also used the anniversary to announce a raft of new sanctions against Russia, including the sanctioning of 87 high-ranking Russian members of Russian president Vladimir Putin's inner circle.  Mahuta says New Zealand's support for Ukraine and opposition to the Russian-led war continues to be "unprecedented" for this country. She spoke to Guyon Espiner.   

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has returned from her surprise diplomatic trip to India. Nanaia Mahuta left in order to strengthen the relationship between both nations and promote New Zealand's education, trade, and tourism interests to a new audience. BusinessDesk senior correspondent Dileepa Fonseka says this long visit was a clever move on Mahuta's part, as this will likely deepen the relationship beyond negotiating trade agreements. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party Deputy Leader Nicola Willis and Labour MP for the Hutt South Ginny Andersen join Nick Mills every week for Politics Monday. This time they discuss the devastating floods across Auckland, whether Wellington is prepared for similar disasters, increasing the minimum wage and developments to the Three Waters entrenchment saga. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A governance expert says Government agencies aren't taking conflicts of interest seriously. The Public Service Commissioner's reviewed contracts between agencies and a consultancy company, both owned by Minister Nanaia Mahuta's husband. It found the ministries didn't properly manage perceived conflicts of interests, but no real conflicts were identified. Victoria University's Max Rashbrooke says Kainga Ora's failure to even ask about conflicts of interest is extraordinary. He says it's worth asking if there's a relation of someone already senior in the department or a minister, because it could create potential problems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week Labour MP for the Hutt South Ginny Andersen and National's deputy leader Nicola Willis join Nick Mills for Politics Monday. This week they debate what was behind National's win in the Hamilton West by-election, expected retirements within the Labour Party, Three Waters passing into law and youth crime. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A positive step in condemning Iran - in the Beehive today. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta's now put a motion before the House to condemn the regime, which was unanimously passed. It comes a day after news a Kiwi couple had safely left the country, after being detained there for months. Massey University lecturer, Negar Partow says when the pair set off for Iran, they couldn't have known protests and a Government crackdown were about to kick off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta made a direct plea to her Iranian counterpart to urgently let a New Zealand couple leave the country. Social media personalities, Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, were not able to leave Iran for a number of months. Nanaia Mahuta says her officials have been providing support to the couple, and their families, for a number of months.  

Our Public Service Commissioner is looking into the handling of Government contracts given to Nanaia Mahuta's husband. Mahuta has requested this investigation herself. With us now is Bryce Edwards, a political analyst at Victoria University. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is due to meet China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Cambodia this afternoon, as Beijing undertakes military exercises near Taiwan. It's Mahuta's first face to face get together with Wang, and takes place amid mounting tension between China and the United States following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Joining us now to discuss is a man who knows all about international relations, Robert Patman from Otago University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of New Zealand's foreign ministry says there is "no question" Russian troll farms have been spreading disinformation online here under direction from the Kremlin.Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive Chris Seed said intelligence provided by the Five Eyes security alliance showed a "high degree of assurance" Russian-sourced disinformation was being pushed into New Zealand.This was similar to instances in other Western jurisdictions, and had been confirmed by tech platforms too, he said."It is a basic statecraft of the Russian system these days."Seed said there were examples in the anti-vaccination arena."The issue is the extent to which the troll farms and the way they are operating, the way in which that is directly directed by the Russian state, there is no question about that," he told a Parliamentary select committee, after questions from National Party MP Gerry Brownlee.Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said this disinformation was also harmful in its effect on how people were perceiving the Russian war on Ukraine and international response to it.Chief executive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Chris Seed says there is "no question" troll farms are operating here under direction of the Kremlin. Photo / SuppliedMahuta said the most recent cyber attacks were in May. She said the Government had placed sanctions on eight individuals and entities regarding propaganda around the Russian war on Ukraine.The comments come after two recent speeches by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warning of disinformation, first in her Harvard address and then overnight at the Nato leaders' meeting in Madrid.Speaking to media after the meeting, Mahuta said the troll farms were concerning."That's why we undertook to put sanctions on Russian troll farms."We can anticipate that they're fairly widespread. And it creates a misconception about what is actually happening in the war."There are several other examples and social media is the obvious platform to go to to see some of those examples, though. The point though, of the disinformation campaign is it does not age a clear-eyed view of what is happening in Ukraine."Brownlee also asked about the presence of the Russian ambassador in New Zealand and what engagement there had been.Seed said they had met five times with the ambassador since the war began, and most recently two weeks ago.In that meeting officials had "continued to express outrage at the invasion", drew attention to human rights violations, rights of prisoners of war, and steps they were planning around the International Court of Justice, Seed said.Mahuta was also asked about China's role in the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum, and what sort of discussions were planned around the superpower's recent push to build security alliances in the region.Mahuta said the Pacific was increasingly "a contested space" and it was up to Pacific nations themselves to decide if they are to enter bilateral relationships."But when it gets to a regional conversation, that potentially is an entirely different matter."She said she anticipated the topic to be "fleshed out" at the forum.Mahuta said regardless, climate change was the main security threat facing the region.- by Michael Neilson, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve talked a lot on this show about Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong - since Labour was elected in Australia she has travelled her guts out around the Pacific. Really showing up our own Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta - who’s been notable for her near complete lack of travel especially during such a critical time in the Pacific with China’s growing influence Penny Wong’s latest stop? New Zealand The foreign ministers meet today, with plenty to discuss. For a sneak peak we’re joined by Australian foreign minister Senator Penny Wong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, told Morning Report Australia should be more engaged in the Pacific. She says Australia should listen more. “Australia needs to do more in the Pacific than we previously have.” She says the new Australian government is more ambitious on climate change. Wong will meet with Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Wellington today as part of her on-going Pacific tour. It follows recent efforts by China in the region. Ms Wong told RNZ Pacific security should be a matter for the “Pacific family”.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended her Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta - saying there was no need for her to rush into the Pacific after China turned up in a big way recently.Some people thought Prince Louis' antics were adorable - others were outraged at the parenting and at the fact the kids got dragged to all the jubilee events. Do you see a problem here? Was Louis just being an average 4 year old?Would you buy a $100 watermelon?LISTEN ABOVE

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and the Chinese ambassador have offered differing accounts of a meeting and discussion of a Joint Statement with the United States that drew the wrath of Beijing.Mahuta and Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong met on Thursday. It was the first meeting for the pair since Xiaolong started the role in December.The meeting came amid a week of heightened geopolitical tension, with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi continuing an eight-stop tour of the Pacific originally intended to drum up support for a wide-ranging regional agreement.It also included Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's White House visit, after which she and US President Joe Biden issued a Joint Statement that noted New Zealand and the United States' close ties on matters of security and singled out China's recent inroads in the Pacific as concerning."We note with concern the security agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Solomon Islands," the declaration read."In particular, the United States and New Zealand share a concern that the establishment of a persistent military presence in the Pacific by a state that does not share our values or security interests would fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the region and pose national-security concerns to both our countries," it said.It also condemned Chinese activities in the South China Sea, human-rights violations in Xinjiang (home to the Uighur), and the "erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong".After that meeting, China's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the statement was a "hype-up" and had "ulterior motives to create disinformation and attack and discredit China".Asked by media on Thursday if that NZ-US statement was talked about during her meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, Mahuta responded: "Oh a range of things were commented on but not in any particular detail."Asked directly if the statement was brought up, Mahuta said: "Not significantly actually, no."Asked to elaborate, Mahuta said the meeting was "short, it was a meet and greet meeting, it canvassed a range of issues in relation to the Pacific, the bilateral relationship, the fact that we are recognising 50 years of a relationship with China, that New Zealand had a number of firsts, a Free Trade Agreement, things like that".An official "read-out" of the meeting published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website also made no mention of the statement being discussed by the two.However, on Friday morning, Xiaolong wrote a series of tweets about the meeting, directly referring to the statement."Reiterated China's position on the recent US-NZ Joint Statement, and more importantly, compared notes on how China and NZ could steer the bilateral relations in the right direction to the benefit of both sides," Xiaolong wrote."We also talked about how NZ and China could work together to support common development in Pacific island partners. We agreed that it is imperative to keep dialogues going at a time like this."Quoting a Pacific leader: China provided much-needed aid to us when no others were. As I elaborated to Minister Mahuta, China will continue to support Pacific island partners, by, among others, enhancing their endogenous capacity for growth."Xiaolang has been approached for comment.International relations expert Geoffrey Miller told the Herald the differing emphasis on that statement reflected the "growing geopolitical tension at the moment".Miller said New Zealand had previously tended to "hedge" in its international relations, not siding too closely with anyone.More recently, though, New Zealand had made strong moves towards the West, from its support for the Ukrainian effort against Russia, and now the Joint US Statement this week.Wang Yi, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister, meets Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Photo / Supplied"That statement was extraordinary. It felt very much like a US statement, and had a big laundry list of item...

New Zealand and Australia have reacted with frustration to the news that Solomon Islands has gone ahead and signed a security agreement with China. The possibility of such a deal had led to concerns, shared by the United States, that it could provide for China to establish a military base in the Pacific. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the agreement is unwelcome and unnecessary. She told Morning Report the terms of the security agreement are a mystery to everyone in the Pacific. The deal apparently allows Chinese forces to help maintain social order in the nation. Mahuta said the signing of the agreement is not a foreign affairs failure and will be discussed at the inter-governmental Pacific Islands Forum in June.

NATO has agreed to step up efforts to help Australia and New Zealand combat China's growing influence.It came after Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta attended a virtual NATO meeting last night to discuss Russia's invasion into Ukraine.Tensions are rising in the Pacific after the Solomon Islands negotiated a security deal with China.Former ambassador to the United States Tim Groser told Andrew Dickens the events of the past few weeks have transformed the entire global security situation.“Security is going to the top of the political agenda. New thinking will be required, including in New Zealand, so we should keep an open mind.”LISTEN ABOVE

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will take part in a virtual NATO meeting overnight to discuss the response to Russia's invasion into Ukraine.Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says it's not the first time we've been asked to take part in a NATO meeting.She told Andre Dickens she attended a meeting in 2007 when we were involved in the international mission in Afghanistan.Clark suspects we'll largely be in listening mode.“Nanaia Mahuta will also say that the Government has made a range of decisions with respect to Russia on sanctions and there was also the announcement about sending intelligence analysts.”LISTEN ABOVE

Ukraine pleads for more weapons telling NATO the battle for the east of its country will be equivalent to World War II. Foreign Ministers respond to the request at a meeting in Brussels - we'll speak to our Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta who listened into that meeting from here. Covid-19 deaths here are higher than experts expected , and will continue to climb.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is to take part in a NATO Foreign Ministers virtual meeting tomorrow morning. As well as NATO members , Sweden, Finland, Georgia, Australia, Korea, and Japan will also attend. Auckland University Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations Stephen Hoadley spoke to Corin Dann.

The Foreign Minister says there's a lot of evidence "piling up" of war crimes by Russia in Ukraine. On Monday the Prime Minister said there was evidence of war crimes by Russia in Ukraine, but she stopped short of calling President Vladimir Putin a war criminal. Mahuta told Morning Report expelling the ambassador is an option, but NZ is currently keeping diplomatic options open. "We've called the ambassador in a number of times. Moscow is under no shadow of a doubt about where New Zealand stands on this war." Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta told Morning Report there's enough evidence for the international criminal court to make an assessment of events in Ukraine. "There is, again, no shadow of a doubt, based on the images and descriptions that people are seeing reported from Ukraine, that there is enough there for the International Criminal Court to make its assessment and we support them to do that." Mahuta said the court's legal threshold needs to be passed before words like genocide can be applied.

A leaked document indicates that China could boost its military presence in the Solomon Islands — including with ship visits — in a development that is raising alarm in nearby Australia and beyond.The Solomon Islands revealed on Thursday it had signed a policing cooperation agreement with China. But more concerning to Australia was the draft text of a broader security arrangement that was leaked online.Under the terms of the draft agreement, China could send police, military personnel, and other armed forces to the Solomons “to assist in maintaining social order” and for a variety of other reasons. It could also send ships to the islands for stopovers and to replenish supplies.The draft agreement stipulates that China would need to sign off on any information that's released about joint security arrangements, including at media briefings.Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in international security at New Zealand's Massey University, said Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. would all be “very concerned” about the draft agreement, which was ambitious on China's part.Powles said it would be interesting to know what kind of goods China might want to send to the Solomons to service its ships, and whether there was the potential for mission creep in the future, like China developing a naval base.She said she was concerned China was trying to direct the political narrative by controlling what information could be publicly released.A lot of the wording in the draft agreement was vague, Powles said, including exactly what type of military and paramilitary forces that China might send to the Solomons. She said it was either clumsily worded or deliberately opaque.Without directly addressing the content of the draft agreement, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement saying “We would be concerned by any actions that destabilize the security of our region.”The department said that after riots last year in the Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara, Australia and its neighbors had been able to send security assistance “without the need for external support.”“Pacific Island nations have the right to make sovereign decisions,” the department said. “Australia's cooperation with our Pacific family is focused on the economic prosperity, security and development of our region.”New Zealand said it planned to raise its concerns about the document with both the Solomon Islands and China.“If genuine, this agreement would be very concerning,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said. “Such agreements will always be the right of any sovereign country to enter into; however, developments within this purported agreement could destabilize the current institutions and arrangements that have long underpinned the Pacific region's security.”It was not immediately clear when the security agreement might be finalized, signed or go into effect.The Solomon Islands, home to about 700,000 people, in 2019 switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing, which was a contributing factor to last year's riots.Last month the U.S. announced plans to open an embassy in the Solomon Islands, laying out in unusually blunt terms a plan to increase its influence in the South Pacific nation before China becomes “strongly embedded.”The U.S. previously operated an embassy in the Solomons for five years before closing it in 1993. Since then, U.S. diplomats from neighboring Papua New Guinea have been accredited to the Solomons, which has a U.S. consular agency.A news release from the Solomon Islands government on its new policing agreement with China revealed few details. The statement said the agreement had been signed in a virtual meeting between China's Wang Xiaohong, an executive vice minister, and Solomon Islands Police Minister Anthony Veke.Wang said in the release that since the Solomon Islands began diplomatically recognizing China, “the bilateral relations have developed rapidly and achieved fruitful results" and that Chin...

The search for the last person missing after a fishing charter boat sank off North Cape on Sunday resumes this morning, Ukraine has rejected an Russian ultimatum demanding the surrender of the beseiged port city Mariupol, we speak to Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta about New Zealand sending military body armour to Ukraine, and the clean-up continues in Auckland after yesterday's deluge.

After all the huffing and puffing about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, can you believe that Vladimir Putin's ambassador still hasn't been kicked out of New Zealand? Or “expelled” as they call it in diplomatic circles. National's foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee can't believe it either. He's particularly upset about it after the Russian Embassy in Wellington has been defending the invasion on social media and he wants the Ambassador kicked out of the country ASAP. And I'm with Gerry Brownlee a hundred percent on this one. The social media stuff he's talking about all happened in the past week. Last Thursday, after that appalling missile strike on the maternity and children's hospital in Ukraine, the Russian Embassy in Wellington went on Facebook claiming that the hospital was empty and was just being used by the Ukrainians for firing practise. Forget about the three people who died and the 17 others who were injured – all fake news according to the Russian Embassy in Wellington. The next day (Friday last week), the Embassy was back on Facebook accusing the United States and NATO of running biological military programmes in Ukraine. Something the US and NATO have denied. But that didn't stop the Russian Embassy in Wellington saying it. And I've had a look at its Facebook page today and it's still at it. Peddling Putin's propaganda. Posting statements from Russia's Defence and Foreign ministries that talk about Ukraine firing missiles into Russian neighbourhoods, people dying. Propaganda videos of Russian soldiers “apparently” delivering food and other aid to people in Ukraine. It's just nuts. And this is all coming from the Russian Embassy in Wellington. And Gerry Brownlee, quite rightly, is saying ‘why do we still have a representative of Putin's regime here in New Zealand spreading this propaganda on social media?'. I'm saying: How can we possibly tolerate the representative of someone who has shown himself to be – at best – a war criminal? Why on earth aren't we kicking his ambassador out of the country? I see Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is trotting out the usual weasel words. Here's what she's got to say about the Embassy in Wellington's social media activity: “While we can't prevent another government from posting on social media, we encourage anyone who sees potentially harmful information to not spread or share it.” Do me a favour! Yes, Minister – you can't control what these war freaks do on Facebook, but you can kick their representative out of the country. And why aren't you doing it? You can pass legislation that lets you throw sanctions at Russia – and you've done all that. But how can you possibly defend the fact that Putin still has one of his lackeys sitting in Wellington – and not just sitting in Wellington, but spreading vile untruths on social media. “His excellency” – as the Embassy's website refers to him – can do what he wants on Facebook. But let him do it in Moscow, not Wellington. Because, in my view, by allowing the Russian Ambassador to stay in New Zealand, we are guilty of harbouring someone who is party to one of the most appalling war crimes in modern history. The fact that this ambassador's embassy is also trying to defend the undefendable on social media, makes it all the more despicable. 

With Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, Environment Minister David Parker,Tracey Martin by Q+A

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has arrived in Canada, but little is known of what her day will entail.  It's the last leg of her first international trip in the role. She's meeting with her Canadian counterpart today Melanie Joly. But Correspondent Anna Burns-Francis, who's in Canada with Mahuta, told Kate Hawkesby it's all a bit hush-hush. She said she's not sure what they'll discuss, saying the media wasn't even allowed to film them meeting. LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has unveiled the government's Pacific Resilience strategy, updating the Pacific Reset from three years ago.

Should we close the entire Trans-Tasman travel-bubble as Covid numbers grow in Australia? More help is needed by Fiji - we speak to Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, and The men's football team score their first ever win at the Olympics

Should we close the entire Trans-Tasman travel-bubble as Covid numbers grow in Australia? More help is needed by Fiji - we speak to Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, and The men's football team score their first ever win at the Olympics

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has spoken out again on the China issue, telling exporters they need to diversify to protect themselves against cooling relations with China. She compared tensions between Australia and China to a storm, and warned that if Australia is near the eye of the storm there's a possibility the storm could easily engulf New Zealand.Catherine Beard, executive director of Export NZ, told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the comments are stronger than normal, and could be as a result of her being in the UK and getting quizzed by Five Eyes partners. "It's certainly a message we've heard before in New Zealand, so it's no surprise to us, and it makes sense to have diversified markets and spread your risk."She says that politicians don't want to be held accountable for a calamity in the export scene, and most exporters are aware of this. Beard says that the revenue earned out of China by New Zealand exporters is "a fairly narrow band" of the big commodity exporters, such as dairy and logs. "They tend to have reasonable diversified markets anyway." LISTEN ABOVE

There's been global condemnation after a fake bomb threat was used to force a commercial flight to divert to Belarus where a journalist on board was arrested. Worldwatch's Perlina Lau reports. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has tweeted calling for a full investigation into the forced landing and for the immediate release of Roman Protasevich.

A Green Party bid for Parliament to debate recognising Palestine as a state has been blocked, a move the party says questions stated support for a two-state solution.Greens foreign affairs spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman tabled the motion in the House, asking MPs to recognise and support "the right of Palestine to self-determination and statehood, and recognise the State of Palestine among our community of nations".It comes amid escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, which governs the Palestinian territory of Gaza.At least 200 Palestinians have been killed in the week of airstrikes, including 59 children and 35 women, with some 1300 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.Ten people in Israel, including a 5-year-old boy and a soldier, have been killed in the ongoing rocket attacks launched from civilian areas in Gaza towards civilian areas in Israel.Ahead of question time today, Act, National and Labour all said they would not support it - it needed support of all MPs to be debated.Ghahraman said the motion was designed to recognise the "harrowing violence" while looking forward towards lasting peace."The path forward from the latest bout of violence must be lasting peace, supported by the international community."Statehood as part of a two-state solution would uphold and celebrate the inherent rights and dignity of Palestinians."Labour MP and Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said today shortly before the House sat Labour declined to support the motion due to its wording.They had tried to "reach agreement" but this did not happen, she said."We have been very consistent in our position around Israel and Palestine. We support self-determination and a two-state solution."Obviously for Palestine that would mean greater control around what happens in Palestine. We have asked for an immediate ceasefire so dialogue can begin."Act foreign affairs spokeswoman Brooke Van Velden wrote to Ghahraman this week saying while they supported a two-state solution they would not support the Greens' motion, due to a "deeply concerning" tweet from Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March.The tweet read "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!", which Van Velden said was a phrase used by Hamas, which she called a "terrorist organisation that calls for the elimination of Israel"."We don't believe supporting the motion proposed by the Green Party is a helpful contribution to this discourse given the recent actions of Green MPs," she wrote.National foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee also said the party had long-supported the two-state solution to the decades-long conflict, but didn't feel this motion would be helpful."It is our position that the two sides need to desist from the current violent engagement and get back to the table on talks that could lead to this two-state solution that with commitment from both could bring peace to both states."It was under a National government while New Zealand was on the United Nations Security Council that it sponsored a resolution against Israeli settlements as part of supporting a two-state solution.Ghahraman said she was disappointed at the lack of support for her motion, saying it called into question support for the two-state solution."Supporting Palestine as a state puts pressure on the international community to do so as well, meaning the violence that triggered this would not have happened if Palestine had borders."I don't think they can continue saying they support a two-state solution if they do not support this."My motion is about looking forward to a future where children in Palestine and Israel can live in peace."Regarding the tweet from Menéndez March, Ghahraman said she would not get "bogged down" into its meaning saying it had been used by many protesters including from Jewish communities here, but was "surprised" a politician would vote against something they believed in based on a tweet."I support freedom for Palestinians on equal terms a...

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern rejected a suggestion that New Zealand's statements on Five Eyes and China had created a strain with the United States."None of my interactions have suggested there is any such strain. I would reject that."And she said New Zealand was not choosing China over the United States."We have never been in the position of choosing sides. We have always been on the side of New Zealand's interests and New Zealand values."Ardern also said the Labour caucus expected to discuss next Tuesday the Act Party's motion it plans to bring to Parliament on labelling China's treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang "genocide."She made her comments to New Zealand reporters after a video conference session with the US Chamber of Commerce, hosted by executive vice-president Myron Brilliant, during which the issue of Five Eyes was raised by an Australian reporter for Axios.The Five Eyes issue was raised last week when Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand was uncomfortable using the intelligence and security network (Australia, Canada, NZ, US and UK) as the first point of reference for New Zealand's messaging around human rights and China.It raised an outcry from commentators and politicians particularly based in Britain, including former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and leading Brexiteer Nigel Farage.Ardern said in her session with the US Chamber of Commerce that New Zealand did not rule out signing up to future Five Eyes statements but it was more interested in getting broader support."Our view is that we should continue to encourage a range of different platforms for countries for issues be it Myanmar, be it China to continue to raise those concerns."In some cases that might be through the UN. In others it may be as individual countries."New Zealand Australia have jointly joined together in recent times. In others, it may well be coalitions under the platform of say Five Eyes."But what was most important was the principle was to share New Zealand's views openly when it saw issues counter to its interests and values."They are of course support for international rules and norms and the importance to us of human rights and democracy. And that takes precedence over everything."She said New Zealand was proud of its independent foreign policy."We have never chosen partners perse. We have always chosen to stand on our values which are strongly embedded in the importance of democracy and human rights."She also reiterated that she had raised the issue of the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang directly with the leadership in China in Beijing.Speaking to reporters afterwards she was asked about Act's intention to move a motion when Parliament resumes next week asking Parliament to debate a motion declaring China's oppression of Uighurs in Xinjiang an act of "genocide."Ardern said the act of declaring genocide was governed by a set of international criteria and definitions and New Zealand had done it only three occasions: the Holocaust in the Second World War; the massacre of Tutsi in Rwanda and the killing fields conducted by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia."Because there is process there that is defined by international definition, the New Zealand Government has not taken that step at this stage," said Ardern. "What has been put before us as Parliament, however, is a different question."The New Zealand Labour Party is yet to consider its position but I expect we will do that as part of our caucus meeting the next time we meet."That is a similar process that has taken place in other Westminster parliamentary systems. In Britain and Canada, the respective Parliaments have voted without dissent to declare China's treatment of the Uighur as genocide, but the Governments have not taken a position.Ardern took part in the US Chamber of Commerce from the Auckland CBD via video conference.It was billed as a conversation on her priorities for its year hosting Apec, climate and sustainability, Covid...

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has just announced that New Zealand will contribute $1 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross to assist India in its response to surging cases there."We stand in solidarity with India at this difficult time, and commend the tireless efforts of India's frontline medics and healthcare workers who are working hard to save lives," Mahuta said.Some $1m will be donated to the International Federation of the Red Cross to assist India while it responds to the current surge in Covid-19 casesThe Covid-19 situation in India has progressively been getting worse over the last few months.On Sunday, the country recorded the worst single-day increase in cases in any country since the pandemic began, with 352,991 new infections; it also reported 2771 Covid-19 deaths."We believe a contribution to an international organisation that has a reputation for delivery is the most practical assistance we can make to India at this time," Mahuta said."This is a distressing and challenging time for the people of India and we will work alongside the international community as we work to combat the debilitating impact of Covid-19 on the health of our people."She added that the New Zealand Government would continue to monitor the situation and "stands ready" to assist the Indian Government."[We] extend our deepest sympathies to the whānau and friends of those who have had their lives cut short by this terrible virus,"The International Federation Red Cross (IFRC) is working directly with the local Indian Red Cross Society to provide oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, and other crucial medical supplies.The IFRC is also looking at scaling up emergency operations across India by providing intensified ambulance and blood service, and distributing personal protective equipment and hygiene kits to communities in need.Verrall said the situation unfolding in India is "extremely distressing".NZ cricket players in India wanting to return home could do so if they wished, and there was space in MIQ at the moment. 

The dragon, the taniwha - and the kangaroo? In a speech earlier this week Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta used the metaphor of the dragon and the taniwha to describe the China New Zealand relationship. China was very much the dragon in the room when she took the podium alongside Australia's Marise Payne, who winged her way over to Wellington just days after the opening of the trans Tasman bubble. While New Zealand and Australia are long time friends and allies, and both part of Five Eyes, they're not always on the same page when it comes to China. Political editor, Jane Patterson, has more.

Sydney Morning Herald foreign affairs correspondent Anthony Galloway says Australian officials felt "blindsided" by comments by Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta.She's not comfortable with expanding the alliance's remit to joint foreign policy positions.Professor Robert Patman told Si & Phil not all Five Eyes countries have the same positions on human rights and democracy.He says we have serious differences with Australia on a number of issues, but we don't need to agree with them on everything.LISTEN ABOVE

Michael is joined by Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and a former deputy secretary for strategy in the Department of Defence, regarding tensions that have flared between Australia & New Zealand over how to handle China.   New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said early this week that the Five Eyes group should focus solely on intelligence sharing while Beijing responded furiously to previous joint Five Eyes statements criticising China.   The Five Eyes (FVEY), the intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, formed in 1941 are parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a delicate dance as New Zealand and Australia's foreign ministers fielded media questions following their first face-to-face meeting since Covid-19. The pair collectively described the relationship between the two countries as " very special", "warm and close", despite in recent times being at odds over a number of issues. Senator Marise Payne and Nanaia Mahuta discussed everything from so-called 501 deportees being sent back to NZ, and the fate of mother of two Suhayra Aden, who is suspected of having links to ISIS and is currently in Turkey. Australia has cancelled her citizenship, leaving NZ responsible for her. As well as that, the 'dragon' in the room is China. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta talks to Lisa Owen.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has outlined her plan to reframe New Zealand's relationship China. In a wide ranging speech at the New Zealand China Council, the minister said the country needs to diversify its trade arrangements and not put all its eggs all one basket with China, while at the same time signalling resistance to invoking the Five Eyes alliance when disagreements with China emerge. Mahuta spoke to Corin Dann.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade granted export permits for military equipment that was sent to Saudi Arabia's forces in 2016 and 2018, raising concerns the Government may have breached its human rights obligations.Documents obtained by RNZ under the Official Information Act detail transactions that experts say raise human rights concerns due to Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen's civil war. Since 2015, at least 100,000 people have died in the war, which has also displaced millions and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.The documents showed that in May 2016, MFAT approved a permit for military simulation training equipment to be sent to Saudi ground forces. In December that year, sign-off was also given for hand-held computers, radios and range-finding binoculars bound for the Saudi Navy.The exporter, whose identity has been kept secret by MFAT, applied for an extension to its December permit after that shipment was delayed, the documents showed. This was granted in May 2018. The quantity and value of the equipment exported was also withheld.While there are no specific international prohibitions on exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia, when MFAT considers an export permit it must assess whether there are any serious violations of humanitarian law. Waikato University international law professor Al Gillespie said officials may have breached this obligation."When you're dealing with a conflict where nearly a quarter of a million people have died, you've got 10 million people on the cusp of starvation, and the conflict continues to burn and spill, that's not the conflict you want to be involved with," he said.In a response attached to the documents, MFAT said: "Both permits were approved within the framework of the New Zealand Export Controls regime, including [MFAT's] assessment at the time that they would not contribute to human rights abuses."However, by the time the export permits were first granted in 2016, there was already an abundance of concern over Saudi Arabia's involvement in Yemen. A 2015 report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned Saudi Arabia of its human rights obligations after nearly 1000 civilians were killed within a four-month period by Saudi coalition air strikes whose targets included schools and health facilities.By 2018, the conflict had spiralled out of control. The UN declared Yemen as the "world's largest humanitarian crisis".In April 2018, more than 22 million people out of a population of 29 million were in need of humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million in acute need, a UN report showed.MFAT added that it regularly reviews its approach to export controls. Following revelations last week that Air New Zealand's gas turbines unit did repair work for the Saudi Navy, the ministry was asked by the Government to take another look at whether the export controls were fit for purpose.Some believe the 2016 and 2018 permits may already have legally compromised the Government."We have an obligation to prevent international crimes. More than that, we have an obligation not to contribute to international crimes which, arguably, we may have done," said the Green Party's foreign affairs spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman.She added that this could amount to a war crime.Security analyst Paul Buchanan said the export permits meant MFAT and the New Zealand exporter could be part of a "kill chain", with the supply of goods with deadly potential sitting further down a ladder that eventually resulted in the killing or capture of someone by military forces."We, as an ethical country, you would hope would have placed some restrictions on the end use of equipment being supplied from these shores."Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta declined to be interviewed but said in a statement: "This export control case precedes my time as foreign minister and indeed was initially approved in 2016 under the previous Government."We made it clear this week we consider it unacceptable f...