Some interesting results have come in from the Asia-NZ Foundation’s ‘Perceptions of Asia’ survey.
An overwhelming 78 percent of New Zealanders think Free Trade Agreements with Asia will have a positive impact on New Zealand’s future.
It was under former Trade Minister, and current Leader of the Labour Party, Hon Phil Goff that New Zealand signed an FTA with China. Since the signing in April 2008, exports to China have increased by 62 percent, making China New Zealand’s third largest trading partner.
From these statistics alone, it’s clear how vital FTA’s with other Asian countries will be to New Zealand’s economy.
A successful FTA is good for our exporters and grows our economy with more money being injected into the country which flows onto more jobs being created.
I just hope National can follow the lead set by the previous Labour government and secure New Zealand’s place in the Asian business market.
For a copy of the study, visit: www.asianz.org.nz
“I just hope National can follow the lead set by the previous Labour government and secure New Zealand’s place in the Asian business market”
Are you expecting them not to?
Raymond, why don’t you think the FTA’s work achieved over the past years would not continue. Apart from a change in govt., can you tell me what has led you to believe the work would not be continued? I have not heard from any National Party comment that they would seek to limit any possible future FTA.
So really, what gives with your post?
One term that has been used to sum up John Key and the National government is: Flip-flop. Even just last week we had John Key breaking his pre-election promise to not raise GST. There are countless other examples I could reel off, but bearing them all in mind – don’t you think it warrants me to question the National Government?
Sweetd – Raymnonds just concerned that National will make a hash of possible FTA’s with Asian countries.
Just like they are making a hash pretty much everything they have done since being in government, so that’s what gives with his post.
Before any more FTA’s are undertaken, I’d like to see a full study of the benefits, if any, of existing FTA’s.
For example, how much have we gained from China since the FTA? I know China has gained 20% of F&P, are eyeing up Crafer Farms and we have a lot more Chinese chefs coming here, but what did NZ gain?
I’d say what NZ will gain will happen gradually over time, rather than immediately.
“are eyeing up Crafer Farms”
Nooo, we don’t want more filth coming out of that place. 
Welcome back James99. You have hit the nail on the head
Yes Raymond, you should continue to question the national government on its flip-flops – no question about that. But please don’t expect us to pat you on the back as our knight in shining armour when you do. Labour’s far worse flip-flops over the years on some extremely serious issues affecting the poorest of the poor’s ability to feed their children are too raw in my mind to make me think Labour genuinely cares beyond polical point scoring. You might get into power again, in nine or twelve years, but I’ve seen nothing yet that’ll make me think that when you do you won’t again be flip-flopping all over the place. So please spare us the violins.
…and we have a lot more Chinese chefs coming here, but what did NZ gain?
A better quality of Chinese take-out?
In all seriousness though, I’m a little bit suprised that you even feel the need to ask that.
A consequence of of FTA’s is that they enhance the freedom of movement of the most important form of capital – intellectual capital – between states/economies.
And what Labour flip flops are those Anton? I agree there are a few that come to mind, from when they were in govt, but even so you’d be drawing a long bow to call some of them flip flops.
National flip flop blantantly, all the time and then their MPs answers to doing so is usually,”um ahh well.” National flip flop so much their MPs should trial for the New Zealand gymnastics team.
@P hil LOL
National flip flop blantantly
When the circumstances or environment around me change, I revise my opinion/projection to account for those changes.
What do you do James99?
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Who ever invented the term Flip-Flop deserves to be taken behind the bike-sheds and given a damn good kicking. It doesn’t matter who’s changing their policy platform, the other side seem quite happy to “F-F” the debate without the slightest consideration to the merits of the new policy.
Great point Phil, this BS about ‘flip flopping’ is a Labour inspired ‘hey, whack the guy that reacts to change rather than mindlessly groupthinking their way forward’ and shows they haven’t learnt anything and are obviously just waiting for the next labour leader messiah.
Labour perfected the ‘if we’re wrong, at least we’re consistant about it’ politics under Clark and its good we can actually adapt to the circumstances for a change.
Again, the quality of some of the posts such as yours in response to the posted article is vastly superior.
Labour and National are as bad as each other in reference to flip flopping over the years. We don’t need to go into detail as we are all well aware of Labours policy “shifts”.
But I would be very shocked if National was not committed to free trade at a faster and more exciting pace than you and your colleagues Raymond
“One term that has been used to sum up John Key and the National government is: Flip-flop.”
Get over it fellas…keep this up and you’ll never reconnect with the voters.