4. Question No. 4—Foreign AffairsHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 4—Foreign Affairs4. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does she stand by all her statements and actions with regard to New Zealand's relationships with Pacific Island countries and China's moves to build a closer China - Pacific Island countries community?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): Yes. In particular I stand by the statement I made where I said that we were continuing to build on our already deep relationship with the Pacific. Further to that I'm particularly proud of the 1.34 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and the $325 million in additional Budget support to support Pacific countries through the pandemic. I stand by the $1.3 billion climate finance package of which at least half will be going to the Pacific to support climate change adaptation. I also stand by the increase to our overall aid to the Pacific for this triennium by 45 percent compared to the previous three years. These actions show our enduring commitment to the Pacific.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does she stand by her statement that the Government in regards to the Pacific engagement doesn't need to act in a way that makes us look desperate" and if so does she believe the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong with her two visits to the Pacific region in the same number of weeks is desperate?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: The member misquotes what I said. In fact the quote about desperation was in response to the Opposition members thinking that we weren't doing enough.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does she agree that her desire—as she puts it—not to look desperate has led to what she earlier described as a "relationship failure" between New Zealand and Pacific Island countries like the Solomons?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Again I just want to clarify the reference to desperation. It seems as if the Opposition by the way that they are talking down the relationship with the Pacific are wanting us to act in a very desperate way. We do not need to because we have a long and enduring partnership with the Pacific. We value our Pacific partners. We are showing and demonstrating that we are working with them towards Pacific-led solutions.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Point of order Mr Speaker. Notwithstanding the Minister's attempt to re-characterise what she's said the comments were made in relation to the decision by Australia to see things as being urgent enough for the Foreign Minister to very quickly get into the Pacific to talk to counterpart leaders. That question wasn't addressed by the Minister. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I disagree. I listened very carefully to both the question and the response from the Minister. She actually did address the question that the member has asked. It's up to the member to take the answer and ask further supplementaries if he wishes to.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does she stand by her statement regarding New Zealand's engagement with the Pacific that "We don't have to rush into these things because the foundation of our relationship with the Pacific is very strong." and if so how does she square that with her earlier statement that the relationship failure between New Zealand and countries like the Solomon Islands has led to engagement with China?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Yes I do stand by my statement and in relation to the security arrangements and China I made the clear comment that it may not be a necessary set of arrangements if Pacific Island nations look to each other to ensure that their security needs are being addressed.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does she think having made only one visit to the Pacific in 18 months that she's pretty much nailed her desire not to look desperate about what is seen as potentially the largest geopolitical shift in our region in our lifetimes?DEPUTY SPEAKER: Notwithstanding the irony the Minister can answer the part of the question within her responsibilities.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I'm really disappointed that the Opposition continues to talk down the important relationship that we have with the Pacific because I have indicated that I will be attending the Pacific Islands Forum in person. As soon as borders opened in Fiji I went there Minister Henare went there and Minister Sio is currently there. We continue to engage with the Pacific on virtual platforms. I met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Tuvalu when he was here and also the Prime Minister of Cook Islands when he was here and the Foreign Minister of Tonga when she was here as have other ministerial colleagues who have met with a range of ministerial counterparts from the Pacific. I'm disappointed that that member continues to choose to talk down the important relationship that we have with the Pacific. It is valued. It is important. We continue to engage in our enduring relationship with Pacific nations. DEPUTY SPEAKER: We come to question No. 5 in the name of Shanan Halbert—oh sorry.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Supplementary. DEPUTY SPEAKER: OK we'll go back. Sorry I did not see you stand up. So supplementary the Hon Gerry Brownlee.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Do you know what Mr Speaker? If you didn't see me standing I wish the world all had eyes like yours.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well I think it was code for "I don't think you did stand up." Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well I was being generous—we both wear glasses. To the Minister: is she telling us that there is no more work for New Zealand to do as an immediate response to what is now a second proposal put to the 10 countries that China has diplomatic relations with in the Pacific?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I am saying that New Zealand's relationship with the Pacific is important and the agreements and arrangements that we make with the Pacific are critically important in order to support them to address the most important issue climate change and then economic resilience. Those are the conversations that we are having. Our foreign policy is not defined by any other country except ourselves."