Paraone Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Paraone Pita: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:648;Page:17615] 
2.  
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: What was the purpose of his recent trip to Samoa with the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice? 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: Speaking humbly. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Speaking humbly I went to Samoa last weekend both to accompany Dr Rice there at the conclusion of her visit to New Zealand and to participate in a meeting between Dr Rice and the Foreign Ministers of Pacific Island Forum States. Some time ago during one of my visits to Washington I suggested to Dr Rice that she would find it well worth her while to make a visit to the South Pacific to meet with her Pacific counterparts on their home turf face to face. New Zealand and the United States share a strong commitment to promoting good governance and sustainable economic development in the wider Pacific region and beyond and she seriously appreciated the suggestion and the total visit. 
Pita Paraone 
: What were the key outcomes of the meeting? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: First of all the fact that the meeting took place at all was a key outcome. A new chapter in US relations with the Pacific Islands Forum nations is set to begin. The conversation ranged over a number of pressing issues that preoccupy the whole region such as fuel and food prices and climate change and views were freely exchanged on possible ways of dealing with those challenges. In response Dr Rice expressed strong support for the efforts of the forum to address key challenges through a regional approach—including I might say the situation in Fiji. She also thanked this country for and asked me to pass on her compliments in respect of the role we are playing as a responsible neighbour in the Pacific. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Did the Minister in his meeting with Dr Rice repeat the 2005 comment of the leader of New Zealand First that moderate and militant Muslim groups are “like the mythical Hydra a serpent underbelly with multiple heads capable of striking at any time and in any direction.”; and can he reassure the House in line with the Prime Minister’s answer earlier that he does not conduct the foreign affairs of this country in line with those embarrassing comments? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: What I was mindful of and thought about in talking to Dr Rice was a young novice MP who had just turned up in this Parliament and who had shown no understanding of the big issues. However I am bound to say that now that I know he reads my speeches he is about to get himself a serious education. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The question was not about me whatsoever; it was all about what Mr Peters said to Dr Rice and whether he talked about his view that moderate and militant Islamic groups are exactly the same. That was what the question was about. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the Minister like to add to his answer please. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Well I am happy to add to it in the sense that I did discuss with Dr Rice the characteristics of some politicians. I said that one of the characteristics that is most unwelcome in politics is the “dingo-istic” attitude that somebody is showing in this House! 
Pita Paraone 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. What role is New Zealand playing in assisting the development of our neighbours in the Pacific? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: That is a very very sensible question. New Zealand takes extremely seriously its obligations as a good Pacific neighbour. Since becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs I have overseen an increase in New Zealand’s Official Development Assistance programme of almost 70 percent between 2007-08 and 2010-11. That is by far the largest commitment to increase Official Development Assistance spending for decades and will see New Zealand’s assistance reach 0.35 percent of gross national income by 2010-11. I am bound to say that I appreciate the support of the Minister of Finance in this achievement. 
Keith Locke 
: Did the Minister express to the US Secretary of State New Zealanders’ opposition not only to the US’ illegal war in Iraq but also to the use of torture by the American military and the long-term detention of people without access to fair trial at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Dr Rice is an extraordinarily talented highly educated woman. I kinda thinks she knows New Zealand’s views on Iraq. So no I did not raise them. I do know though that she respects the parliamentary independence that was expressed by this Parliament which supported the Government at that time. I also did not raise the fact that when the communists invaded Afghanistan in 1980 someone now in this Parliament decided to support them; he also supported Pol Pot. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You have ruled on this matter many times and a member’s word should be taken. The member Keith Locke has said very clearly many times that he did not make those comments or support the invasion of Cambodia by Pol Pot. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: He can deny it as long as he likes but I have tabled documentation in respect of the allegations about Pol Pot and about the member’s support for the Russian Communist Government’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1980. He cannot now resile from those words even though he may be sensitive about his past stupidity. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The matter has been raised in this Parliament before and there is obviously agreement not to agree on it. Members have the right to express themselves freely in this House and they do so constantly. If another member takes offence however then he or she should raise the matter at the time. 
Rodney Hide 
: I think the issue is—just to help the House and I think to help the Minister of Foreign Affairs—the difference between the fall of Cambodia and the actual rise to power of Pol Pot because the two events are not concurrent. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member but this is not a matter for debate. 
Keith Locke 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The Minister still has not addressed the question about the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and the use of torture by the American military. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I think he did. As I heard his answer he said that no the issues were not raised. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table a speech called “The End of Tolerance” given by the Rt Hon Winston Peters. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection.