Thursday, 18 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
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 MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand|Politics

Remember Janis Joplin before judging China too harshly says Winston Peters

4 Dec, 2017 10:43 PM3 minutes to read
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Photo/ Mark Mitchell

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Photo/ Mark Mitchell

Audrey Young
By
Audrey Young

Senior Political Correspondent

VIEW PROFILE

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said people passing judgment on China, particularly from the West, should have more regard the massive problems it had faced and he quoted Janis Joplin to make his point.

He made his comments today, diverting from speech notes, to open a symposium at Victoria University's Confucius Institute to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China.

The New Zealand China relationship started with ordinary people, Peters said.

What gave the New Zealand Government confidence in the future of the relationship were the connections between people.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"And we should also remember this when we are actually making judgments about China and about freedom in their laws that when you have hundreds of millions of people to be re-employed and to be relocated with the change of your economic structure, you have some massive huge problems.

"And sometimes the West and commentators in the West should have a little more regard to that and the economic outcomes of those people rather than be constantly harping on about 'the romance of freedom' or as a famous singer once sang, Janis Joplin, remember that song?

"She said 'freedom's just another word for nothing else to lose.'

"In some way the Chinese have got a lot to teach us when it comes to uplifting everybody's economic future in their plans."

In his prepared speech, Peters touched on the South China seas territorial dispute, although not by specific reference.

He said New Zealand and China had grown beyond the business and institutional contacts.

The continued prosperity and security of the Asia-Pacific region was important to China and New Zealand.

"New Zealand supports a stable, rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region in which free trade and connectivity can thrive.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"We urge parties to resolve disputes in accordance with international law, on the basis of diplomacy and dialogue."

Peters made reference to the New Zealand's support for China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative, development modern transport routes across Asia to Europe.

He also said New Zealand and China were negotiating an upgrade of the 2008 free trade agreement to further reduce barriers impacting on exports but he added – "I do not think it will be as easy as some people think."

Peters had talks with his counterpart, Wang Yi, at Apec in Vietnam last month and accepted an invitation to go to China next year.

Peters referred to the first Chinese immigrant to New Zealand, Appo Hocton, who arrived in 1842 by jumping ship in Nelson and becoming a successful businessman.

He also talked about Rewi Alley, a Taranaki sheep farmer, who left for China 90 years ago and has celebrated by successive Chinese leaders as a friend.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

* Peters got the lyrics slightly wrong. It should be "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." It is from the Kris Kristofferson song "Me and Bobby McGee."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Massive fire at scrap metal yard in Christchurch

17 Aug 08:40 AM
New Zealand

7-year-old Wairoa boy died in Oranga Tamariki care

17 Aug 08:20 AM
New Zealand

'One-in-100-year event': Hundreds evacuated in Nelson after river breaches banks

17 Aug 07:49 AM
New Zealand|Education

Auckland high school placed into lockdown following fight

17 Aug 07:33 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Posties stop delivering flyers for October's local body elections

17 Aug 07:15 AM

Most Popular

Premium
NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m
Business

NZ's highest paid CEO: Fletcher boss takes home $6.58m

17 Aug 05:30 AM
Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp
Business

Adrian Orr fronts media after RBNZ hikes OCR by 50bp

17 Aug 02:00 AM
'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery
New Zealand|Crime

'Incredibly unsettling': Police update on suitcase homicide mystery

17 Aug 01:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
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 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP