PM irked by GCSB report disruption

Name: GCSB: Commissioner recollects meeting with PM
Uploaded: 2013-04-04T15:00:41+13:00
Duration: 198 s
Description: State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie recollects his meeting with the Prime Minister and said he was 'surprised' when he learned Mr Key had contacted GCSB boss Ian Fletcher directly.

NZ Herald

9 Apr, 2013 05:30 PM2 mins to read

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie recollects his meeting with the Prime Minister and said he was 'surprised' when he learned Mr Key had contacted GCSB boss Ian Fletcher directly.

Prime Minister John Key's says he is unhappy he had to disrupt his programme in Shanghai to address the issues of the GCSB report.

He goes to Beijing about 2pm today for an official welcome at the Great Hall of the People by Premier Li Keqiang and a new round of talks.

Mr Key had talks on Sunday with President Xi Jinping on Hainan Island.

"About the last thing we wanted to be doing is standing here in China dealing with this," he said at a press conference convened in his hotel after the Government decided to release the report early because of leaks.

Mr Key had to give up only one appointment - a visit to a Shanghai supermarket to promote New Zealand produce - which Trade Minister Tim Groser did instead.

The afternoon was one of contrasts - after meeting Shanghai Communist Party officials he attended a function to mark the publication of a Chinese language version of the classic children's story book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy written by Dame Lynley Dodd.

It has sold nine million copies worldwide.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said the Penguin Group, which held the rights to the book, had sold the Chinese language rights to Wenhui Press.

Last night as part of the trade mission programme Air New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand said they would replicate an arrangement that China Southern Air with Immigration NZ to allow Chinese tourists with Elite, Gold and Silver frequent flyer status to be fast-tracked for visas.

They will still have to meet good health and character tests, but won't have to provide proof of employment and Immigration says try to process their visas within five working days.