OUT OF THE BEEHIVE - MSC NewsWire

Vice President Biden seeks to encourage NZ adherence to perilous trade policies

Increasingly awkward national role as US foreign policy cheerleader US Vice President Joe Biden’s “touchdown” this week in New Zealand presents New Zealand premier John Key with the problem of having to enthuse over several issues that he knows are actually or potentially damaging to the economy, or are being viewed as unlikely to happen. They are:- China’s expansion into the South China Sea. This falls on top of the steel dumping issue. Any overt condemnation of China’s territorial incursions into the South China Sea has the possibility of very severely damaging New Zealand’s dairy exports. China’s economy is a…

New naval tanker to have enhanced capabilities

The Government has approved the purchase of a new naval tanker for the New Zealand Defence Force which will be ice-strengthened and winterised for operations in Antarctica, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says. The project will cost $493 million and will support a full range of NZDF deployments, including maritime sustainment and humanitarian and disaster relief operations. The vessel will be built by South Korean firm Hyundai Heavy Industries and is expected to be delivered in 2020. It replaces the 30-year-old tanker HMNZS Endeavour, which currently provides fuel to Royal New Zealand Navy and other partner nations’ ships and embarked helicopters,…

Minister to attend Counter-Daesh meetings in Washington

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today to attend the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in Washington on 20 July. He will also represent New Zealand at the Counter Daesh Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry, also in Washington, on 21 July. “As we have seen recently, Daesh continues to pose a significant threat not only to the citizens of Iraq and Syria but also the wider world,” Mr Brownlee says. “These meetings provide an important opportunity to engage with other partners involved in the global coalition to…

Minister seeks increased trade with Indonesia

Trade Minister Todd McClay is traveling to Indonesia today to join the Prime Minister and a high-level business delegation for a two-day official visit. “Indonesia is an important trade partner for New Zealand, and as our 11th largest export market offers significant trading opportunities. “Our two-way trade currently sits at $1.6 billion, and we're keen to explore ways to meet the target set by the two countries last year to boost trade to $4 billion by 2024,” says Mr McClay. “We will be looking to further broaden our trade connections, including through the Prime Minister’s meeting with Indonesian President Joko…