Tuesday, 12 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand / Politics

Beijing spoke to Govt about visit

By Jarrod Booker
8 Jun, 2011 05:30 PM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Photo / Getty Images

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Photo / Getty Images

The Government was spoken to by the Chinese Embassy before a visit by the Dalai Lama, and no representative met him on his visit to Christchurch.

Wellington, however, insists it was not influenced in how it approached the visit.

The Tibetan spiritual leader spoke to thousands at a free public event in Christchurch yesterday as part of a recently-arranged visit in support of the people after the February earthquake that claimed 181 lives. He earlier wrote to Prime Minister John Key conveying his sympathies over the disaster.

A spokesman for Mr Key told the Herald the two-day visit was private and no meetings had been requested.

However, questions have been raised about whether the Government's lack of involvement had anything to do with the ongoing tensions between the Chinese and the Dalai Lama over the struggle for independence for Tibet.

"A brief representation was made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade by the Chinese Embassy after details of the Dalai Lama's trip were made public," Mr Key's spokeswoman said.

"Central government was not approached by the Dalai Lama Trust to meet with the Dalai Lama. If any requests had been received, they would have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis."

Asked yesterday about the lack of an official welcome or meeting with Government representatives, the Dalai Lama told the Herald he would have been happy to meet officials, but if it was inconvenient, it was no problem. He said meeting the people was most important.

Related articles

World

No small task filling the shoes of a living god

18 Nov 04:30 PM
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Kahu

Human Rights office stands by shared leader appointment

11 Dec 06:59 PM
New Zealand|Crime

Bad driver turns bad passenger in police chase that ended with empty fuel tank

11 Dec 06:00 PM
Kahu

Vaping for Māori and Pasifika teens on the rise

11 Dec 05:45 PM
New Zealand

It's Just Dunedin trailer

“Never been a better time to buy an EV”

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Human Rights office stands by shared leader appointment

Human Rights office stands by shared leader appointment

11 Dec 06:59 PM

Act leader David Seymour has spoken out about role and salary.

Bad driver turns bad passenger in police chase that ended with empty fuel tank

Bad driver turns bad passenger in police chase that ended with empty fuel tank

11 Dec 06:00 PM
Vaping for Māori and Pasifika teens on the rise

Vaping for Māori and Pasifika teens on the rise

11 Dec 05:45 PM
It's Just Dunedin trailer

It's Just Dunedin trailer

9 big questions over an EV road trip
sponsored

9 big questions over an EV road trip

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP