Finlayson Christopher: InquiryInquiries — Inquiry into New Zealand's Relationship with Latin America Consideration of Report of Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee 
Finlayson Christopher: InquiryInquiries — Inquiry into New Zealand's Relationship with Latin America Consideration of Report of Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee 
[Volume:629;Page:1871] 
CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National) 
: 
 I want to begin my contribution tonight by paying tribute to the memory of John McArthur. John McArthur was New Zealand’s first ambassador in Chile with cross-accreditation to Peru. He was appointed in 1973 and he died earlier this year. But the very fine work that John McArthur started in 1973 has continued through the good work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and as this report states we now have embassies in Brasília Buenos Aires Mexico City and Santiago. 
I congratulate the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee on its report. I am a little disappointed in the Government response because I consider that really to be largely polysyllabic waffle. There are many words that signify not a lot at all. I want to focus on a few key items because I think when one is moving into relatively new territory like Latin America rather than try to do too much it is better to focus on a few things and to do them well. 
So my first comment concerns diplomatic posts. I agree with the recommendation that we probably have enough diplomatic posts at the present time and that there is a lot of work to be done to bed in the relatively new posts in Brasília and Buenos Aires. So I think that the key aim or response of the Government that I can agree with is that the Government will keep under review the question of representation in the region and whether a further post should be established. 
Why on earth we need an honorary consul in Paraguay beats me. I was surprised at the contribution of the member of the Green Party Mr Locke. I thought given his views he would want an embassy in Cuba and would want to be appointed there. But in the future I think that we should look very closely at opportunities that exist in Venezuela. It is interesting that in 2001 $266 million worth of products were sold to Venezuela and that in 2005 of the $414 million gained from exports to Latin America $123 million came from Venezuela. So obviously there is great potential in Venezuela particularly with the sale of dairy products and we should be looking very closely at the opportunities there. 
The second point I wish to make concerns language. In my opinion not enough New Zealanders are bilingual. I am sure the member for Otaki probably thinks that people in Latin America speak Latin but he would be wrong. They speak the two great Romance languages Spanish and Portuguese. I am sure that the Minister for Social Development and Employment the member for Dunedin South who taught modern languages for many years would agree with me that regrettably French and German are becoming less popular and that in terms of the future we should be looking to ensure that New Zealanders are adequately taught Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish is the most widely spoken of the Romance languages in the modern world and I think it would be fair to say that Portuguese is spoken by a couple of hundred million people. So every opportunity should be given to New Zealanders to ensure that they speak these languages the languages of Latin America because it is very important for the future that more New Zealanders are bilingual. It is a sad reflection on the education system that that is not the case at the present time and that we compare very unfavourably with those who live in Europe. 
The third point I want to make—and this is where I have great difficulty with the Government response—is that the responses to recommendations 4 5 and 10 seem to use a lot of words but mean very little. What does it mean when the Government responds to recommendation 4 to state: “The Government is currently making arrangements for the next session of the CER/MERCOSUR officials’ dialogue to be held in Wellington in March this year. It is planned that the dialogue continue as an annual event.”? How does that really expand on opportunities for linking CER and Mercosur trading zones? There seems to be a lot of talk but not a lot of action. In my submission in terms of trade the key thing to do over the next decade is to focus on Brazil and Chile—particularly Brazil where we have recently opened a new embassy. 
The final point concerns immigration. Strangely this report did not address immigration. I read the report as I said with great interest but I was disappointed that immigration was not addressed because I think that Latin America could be a prime source of migrants for New Zealand. I endorse what Mr Groser said. It is very apparent that in the period immediately after the Second World War Australia had a lot of Italian and Greek migrants and I think we all agree that Australian society is much richer as a result. We should have done that at that time and we missed a great historical opportunity. Peter Fraser probably preferred more English trade unionist immigrants but I think that we should grab this opportunity and actively explore the possibility of immigration from Latin America. As I said I think it is a prime source for migrants. 
So the relationship between Latin America and New Zealand which as I said was fostered in 1973 by the appointment of the late John McArthur as our first Ambassador to Chile has grown but there is tremendous potential for further growth. It is a continent we cannot afford to avoid or ignore and I look forward to seeing this relationship grow and being nurtured over the years to come. 
Motion agreed to.