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New Zealand First Party on Foreign Policy and Trade

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New Zealand First Party opposes unrestricted free trade

New Zealand First supports restrictions on foreign investment in New Zealand and would “give priority to New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs”. It says “Tariffs will be adjusted at no greater pace than that of our trading partners”, adding “We aim to win the export and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal race”. It would review all Free Trade Agreements “to ensure they are in New Zealand’s interests” and voted against the FTA with China.

New Zealand First Party supports the involvement of New Zealand troops in military operations in Afghanistan

New Zealand First policy does not mention Afghanistan. However, the party is committed to improving our relationship with the US and leader Winston Peters has spoken warmly of New Zealand’s efforts to promote “stability and prosperity in places such as Afghanistan”. In July he said that New Zealand’s deployment in Afghanistan was an “appropriate role commensurate with our size and resources in contributing to international security."

New Zealand First Party is neutral on raising our overseas aid budget to 0.7 percent of Gross National Income

New Zealand First will “further review the level of Overseas Development Assistance and its global allocation, and ensure that it is focused on facilitating priority projects, and the alleviation of poverty, particularly in the Pacific region”. But it gives no commitment to meet the UN’s 0.7 percent target.

New Zealand First Party strongly supports improving and renewing New Zealand's bi-lateral relationship with the United States

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has made improving New Zealand’s relationship with the US one of his priorities as Foreign Minister, and said in July this year, “I think our relationship is better today than it’s been for a long, long time”. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the same meeting thanked Peters for “the the really fruitful contacts, the relationship that we’ve had over these last few years”. Party policy is to “sustain momentum and build on developments in New Zealand’s traditional international relationships."

New Zealand First Party supports actively pursuing a Free Trade Agreement with the United States

As foreign minister Winston Peters has spoken positively about an FTA with the US, saying this year that “we believe that if we’re positive about this 21st century relationship, we will get there one day [to an FTA], and sooner than people think”. Spokesman for Peters last year said, "Winston's view is that a free-trade agreement with the US will be a significant boost to New Zealand's economy”. However, New Zealand First policy is to “review all current and future bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the Closer Economic Relations (CER) process, to improve transparency and accountability and to ensure they are in New Zealand’s interest."