Donald Rod: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donald Rod: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9703] 
1. ROD DONALD (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: Does the Government support Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Don McKinnon's bid for a second term as Secretary-General; if so why? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 The answer is yes. Don McKinnon is doing a good job. He is a New Zealander and there is strong support for him to undertake a second term. 
Rod Donald 
: In light of the high regard in which Mr McKinnon is held by this Government is the Minister concerned about Mr McKinnon’s statement in the  
Guardian 
 last Friday headlined: “Commonwealth fury at Whitehall meddling” and stating: “Britain and New Zealand have been interfering in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s internal staffing policies.”? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: No I understand that that may be Mr McKinnon’s alleged comments but that Mr McKinnon does not have a problem with the role of New Zealand in that regard. 
Tim Barnett 
: Which countries are supporting Don McKinnon’s bid for a second term as Secretary-General? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: A range of Commonwealth leaders have expressed to Mr McKinnon their support for his securing a second term. For example at the recent Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland unanimous support was expressed for Mr McKinnon. At this point there are no other declared candidates for the position although I understand that Zimbabwe—suspended from the Commonwealth—has been trying to find a second candidate. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Given there is now a news release headline alleging: “New Zealand in plot to muzzle staff at Commonwealth Secretariat” what steps precisely has the Minister taken to check the validity of that news release allegation and what steps will he take to satisfy this Parliament that no New Zealand staff have been involved in any meddling in the employment of officials at the Commonwealth Secretariat? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The role of employment of officials within the Commonwealth is of course the responsibility of the Secretary-General and no outside country. That does not prevent— 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Outside New Zealand staff. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: If the member wants to listen to the answer I will give it to him. That does not prevent any country that has a particular concern about the behaviour appropriate or otherwise of officials from raising that concern with the Secretary-General. 
Rod Donald 
: Can the Minister confirm that a meeting took place earlier this year between Robert Hole a New Zealand diplomat at our High Commission in London and Eileen Drage a senior official in the British Government at which they agreed to monitor the activities of Roman Grynberg a Commonwealth Secretariat official who happens to have views on trade at odds to those of the New Zealand Government? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I can confirm that a meeting took place between Rob Hole of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and an Elaine Drage who I understand is employed by the Department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom. Concern has been expressed about the behaviour of a particular official and there are appropriate ways to take that up with the Secretary-General. I would expect those ways to be employed. 
Rod Donald 
: Has the Minister seen the letter from Elaine Drage to Robert Hole that confirms that Mr Hole agreed to find out when Roman Grynberg’s contract expires and to ascertain the procedures for filling posts at the Commonwealth Secretariat and would he give this House a watertight guarantee that neither of these actions was ever taken by a New Zealand official? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I have seen the letter and nothing that Rob Hole is accused of in that letter is in any way offensive a criminal act or in any way inappropriate. 
Rod Donald 
: Does the Minister extend that view to the fact that Elaine Drage asked Robert Hole to leak her a copy of a draft “Development and Democracy” paper being prepared for the December Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting because she regarded the trade section as dangerous and protectionist and wanted it changed before a meeting of Commonwealth officials next week? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I am not sure what the document is that supposedly was to be leaked but if a New Zealand official as a member of the Commonwealth had that document I presume that a UK official also a member of the Commonwealth would also have that information and be entitled to it. 
Rod Donald 
: Notwithstanding that the document was being prepared by an Australian academic does the Minister agree that Don McKinnon’s job as Secretary-General is to work for all Commonwealth countries not just the rich Western countries; if so why is the New Zealand Government undermining this work by attempting to remove officials from positions where they can advocate for the interests of poor countries many of which do not accept this Government’s commitment to unrestricted free trade? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I agree with the first comment. I think the second allegation is wrong. If the member is trying to find some comfort in Don McKinnon’s statement for his position on international trade he will find none because Don McKinnon’s viewpoint on this issue as this Government’s is is quite different from that member’s. We are in favour of removing subsidies and we are in favour of removing barriers to trade not only to developing countries but also of course to efficient agricultural producers like New Zealand. 
Rod Donald 
: I seek leave to table the letter from Elaine Drage who is a director of trade and development to Robert Hole a counsellor at the New Zealand High Commission. 
Document not tabled. 
Rod Donald 
: I seek leave to table the  
Guardian 
 article headed: “Commonwealth Fury at Whitehall Meddling”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that newspaper article. Is there any objection? There is.