In a clearly visible proof of the 50 year cycle that forecaster STRATFOR define as the unavoidable tidal modern politico-economic controlling force, New Zealand has made the transition from European supplicant to European power broker.Fifty years ago New Zealand politicians and diplomats cap in hand toured European capitals begging Common Market authorities to treat New Zealand charitably in the matter of market access.Now in contrast, it is New Zealand officials who have the whip hand. It is the EU that now needs New Zealand. Why? Because with the United Kingdom now packing its bags and readying for its departure from Brussels, New Zealand via its pending FTA, will give Europe a much-needed Westminster-sphere alliance.After Britain’s June referendum on EU membership and a likely out vote, it is New Zealand that will become the chief formalised link with the British Commonwealth.Not immediately visible is the way in which New Zealand is already connected to France. There is cement (Lafarge Holcim) hotels (Accor) utilities and urban transport (Veolia) electrics (Schneider) Montana wines (Pernod Ricard) and Laval (milking.)If we turn to that newly embattled other pole of the EU, Germany, we find for example, BOC (Linde) and the major share of the nation’s glossy media (Bauer.) These include the NZ Woman’s Weekly, Listener, North & South, and Metro.Such are the ties that already bind.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk