Election 2017: NZ political parties' position on the Belt and Road

In March 2017, New Zealand signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China on its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Do you support the MOU? How would you engage with the BRI?

Green Party

"We support the concept but would seek to ensure that projects include adequate protection of the environment and uphold human rights."

Labour Party

[*Editor’s note: Labour responded to questions in this feature by referring the Asia Media Centre to its 2017 party manifesto and other publicity material.] 

There are no references to the BRI in the documents provided by Labour. However, David Parker’s speech to the Asia Forum on 4 April 2017 makes several references to New Zealand’s relationship with China:

“Labour has always maintained an independent foreign policy. The so-called 'four firsts' with China are examples of our leadership with Asia, including the important NZ-China FTA.”

“Our place in the new world order is not yet clear. The ascendancy of China and other countries on the Asian side of the Pacific rim increasingly influences our future.”

Māori Party

"China has launched the pan-Eurasian 'Belt and Road' infrastructure initiative as a means of promoting economic prosperity and fostering diplomatic ties on a global scale.

At a time when other global powers are voicing increasingly protectionist agendas, this action may be applauded. However, such action does not come without risks. The aim is to connect countries across the world with physical and digital infrastructure. Loans are being extended to governments, many of which are in risky countries, to fund infrastructure projects, and there has been considerable risks of non-performance with high risks of default. This has implication for China’s economy and also for the world including New Zealand, which became the first developed nation to sign up.

We note that the New Zealand China Council is working on research about what Belt and Road means for New Zealand as 'a smaller, more distant neighbour', including what types of projects may work here. The work is intended to give the public, businesses and policymakers a better idea about what New Zealand can hope to achieve, and what must happen first and the Māori Party would hope that all of this is undertaken with caution and care."

National Party

“Our new arrangement with China doesn’t go into specific projects yet, but the intention is for it to create opportunities around things like New Zealand businesses exporting to China and the region, and around bringing in Chinese goods and expertise to help with building things like some of our major infrastructure projects.

New Zealand is growing strongly and we are investing significantly in infrastructure like schools and hospitals and roads. Foreign investment and expertise will help us build these, so New Zealanders are even better served.

We’re open to using a range of foreign expertise on these projects – both Chinese and otherwise – to make sure we deliver them as well as we can, and for a good price, to help meet the needs of our growing economy and country.

We are already seeing examples of positive Chinese investment in New Zealand, for example in our tourism industry in the likes of hotels and resorts, as well as manufacturing.”

New Zealand First

"The Belt and Road Initiative may suit China’s economic and international plans, but the question New Zealand First asks is: Does it suit New Zealand’s?"

The wording used in the responses is the wording supplied by the political parties - the Asia Media Centre has not changed the terminology used. 

This is one of four questions on Asia foreign policy the Asia Media Centre posed to New Zealand political parties. Read the rest of our Election 2017 feature here.

– Asia Media Centre