Heritage Foundation experts have submitted five questions they consider vital to the foreign policy debate: Given that the Taliban movement still poses a threat to the futures of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, how do you plan to ensure stability in the region and prevent either country from serving as a base for international terrorists intent on attacking theU.S.? Over the last …

Australia has a seat on the UN Security Council after an emphatic win in New York this week, and the key to Australia’s success in part was support from the African nations.  Now New Zealand is also campaigning for its own seat in 2015 so what does Australia’s success mean for our bid? Former New Zealand Ambassador to the UN …

For thirty years New Zealand has run a current account deficit, averaging around 5% of GDP.   To cover this cash outflow, New Zealanders have sold assets to, or borrowed from, foreigners.  As a result New Zealand’s net foreign liabilities are around 75% of GDP, a very high ratio by international standards. Despite recent years having enjoyed higher prices for our exports and …

China Business Summit 2012 China offers huge opportunities for New Zealand businesses, but too few are taking the plunge and entering the market, says Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with NZ INC Ltd, held the inaugural China Business Summit in Auckland on October 3 –  aimed to galvanise businesses into …

The Maori Council will today file papers in the High Court seeking a judicial review of the government’s plan to sell down Mighty River Power. Council solicitor Donna Hall told Radio New Zealand the case is that the government “is acting illegally in proceeding to sell the shares” before establishing what prior rights Maori have. “There’s now a final decision …

The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund have agreed a co- investment partnership which could invest up to $200 million  into venture capital funds in the two countries. Under the partnership, NZVIF and NDF will invest up to $25 million each into new venture capital funds in New Zealand and Taiwan. The venture capital fund managers …

Green Party co-leader Dr Russell Norman wants the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to launch quantitative easing to lower the value of the New Zealand Dollar. Dr Norman writes “Since the Global Financial Crisis, our major trading partners have engaged in large scale measures that have devalued their currencies” and that “The UK, USA, Japan and the European Union have …

High passenger numbers for the 2012 season has sparked Air New Zealand to schedule another Auckland-Denpasar service next year. A Boeing 767-300 aircraft will operate twice weekly non-stop Auckland – Denpasar services for from 1 June to 15 October. This is three weeks longer than the 2012 season, again reflecting demand. Air New Zealand Group General Manager Australasia Bruce Parton …

Security expert, Paul Buchanan, is calling for greater oversight and accountability of New Zealand’s intelligence agencies. Speaking on TV3’s The Nation this weekend, Mr Buchanan said the GCSB’s assurances that Huawei posed no threat to national security was another example of its incompetency. “If you were to ask me a month ago if I would take the GCSB’s word at …

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is off to Indonesia for bilateral talks, and to attend the Bali bombing 10th anniversary commemorations.   In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa will host McCully for the 5th annual Indonesia-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC).   “Building on the momentum created by the Prime Minister’s visit to Jakarta in April, we will discuss developments in agriculture …