Event Summary:
His Excellency Graham Kelly
Lord of the Rings and Sauvignon Blanc:
Reflections from an Exported New Zealander
27 June 2006
MacMillan Binch Mendelsohn
Summary by: Michelle Chung (Incoming First Year Student, University of Toronto Commerce Program, Trinity College)
Those who perceive New Zealand to be a tiny, inconsequential nation playing second fiddle to the larger, more politically eminent Australia, and to an extent, other burgeoning nations in the Asia-Pacific region, would find Graham Kelly’s talk on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 to offer new insights. While New Zealand’s political clout is relatively small and it has not been commonly associated with Canada in the past, Kelly believes that the deep and undeniable similarities between the two nations are paving the way for further collaborative affairs in the future.
Kelly freely admits that Canadians may have only a passing familiarity with his home country. However, in the same way that Canada is more than hockey, frigid winters, and Mounties, New Zealand is, too, a country with many facets that is not limited to rolling hills, sheep, and the film the Lord of the Rings. Stereotypes aside, New Zealand is a complex, dynamic nation, both economically and socially. High Commissioner Kelly would certainly know, as his position as New Zealand’s top representative in Canada has afforded him a great deal of knowledge on New Zealand’s place in the world, its future prospects, and its challenges.
For nearly a century, New Zealand sustained a comfortable standard of living by exporting the bulk of its primary production to the U.K. However, the onslaught of skyrocketing oil prices in the 1970s and Britain’s entry into the E.U. effectively undermined the country’s enviable economic position. The rampant borrowing in the 1980s and the subsequent economic reform only exacerbated the existing problems. Therefore, in order for small New Zealand to succeed, it needed to embrace the increasingly global nature of the economy.
Enter Canada, an unlikely partner to New Zealand. At first blush, the two countries appear to have little in common, save for their positions as developed nations. Nevertheless, Kelly asserts that, on many levels, namely those of multilateralism, bilateral relations, and national security, both share common aspirations that must not be overlooked if Canada and New Zealand want to maintain a meaningful relationship.
Like Canada, New Zealand has remained a committed multilateralist since the founding of the United Nations. Also, like Canada, a pragmatic approach is taken; that is, multilateralism is only pursued when it is more effective than the regionally-developed solution. As both are trading nations, they stand to benefit greatly at the world negotiating table.
As well, New Zealand’s closest neighbor, Australia, naturally figures largely in New Zealand’s interests. The two are inextricably linked through geographic proximity, culture, trade, and tourism, among other aspects, with the larger Australia often assuming the more prominent role. Sound familiar?
Most notably, though, Canada and New Zealand are on common ground when it comes to the “3Ds” – defense, diplomacy, and development – which encompasses a broad-based approach to national security. Both countries recognize and are willing to uphold these ideals for the sake of human rights, freedom, and justice. Like Canada, New Zealand has committed their military forces to UN-mandated combat operations in Afghanistan. Further, both Canada and New Zealand have made contributions in the areas of humanitarian aid and the support for democratic elections.
Kelly’s favorable impression of Canada has been due in part to Canadians’ sensitivity toward its immigrant population; it is an attitude which Kelly believes is reflected in how Canada engages in international discussions. In Kelly’s view, Canada’s “overwhelming tendency to be constructive” has been the key to its well-earned reputation as a trusted ally and peacekeeper. In short, Canada is a country with much to be proud of on the world affairs front, providing a template from which New Zealand can learn.
That is not to say that Canada is completely devoid of issues which threaten its stability as a nation. Relations between the provinces and the federal government, namely that of Quebec and Ottawa, continue to be strained. Regional disparity coupled with cultural differences ensures that national cohesion is a tremendous challenge. Also, the physical isolation of First Nations peoples renders job prospects and overall economic improvement rather limited; and this problem will only escalate if accommodations are not made for autonomous governments on the reserves.
Another area in which Kelly showed marked concern was that of Canada’s supposed “free trade”. New Zealand’s dairy exports to Canada are impeded by crippling tariffs, sometimes as high as 300%. Therefore, New Zealand’s dairy products rarely make it to Canadian consumers, a situation that Kelly deems unfair and protectionist. These measures may be derived from Canada’s almost singular reliance on the U.S. as a trading partner; and Kelly suggests a more “expansive internationalist trade policy”. At any rate, New Zealand can benefit from both Canada’s weaker points and accomplishments.
Kelly concluded his candid, refreshingly direct discussion by mentioning his intention to return to Canada to visit, after a 3 year posting which ends in July. He joked that the summer months would be his preferred time to return, given Canada’s notoriously cold winters. However, as the economic ties continue to strengthen, we could see much more contact between these two nations in the near future, regardless of the season.
View the event flyer: Flyer.
Event Photos:
Graham Kelly is flanked by Fayen d’Evie and Ross Pinkerton
Keith Martin, President of the CIIA Toronto branch, with New Zealand High Commissioner Graham Kelly
Kate Ryan of the New Zealand Shop, Jock Logan of Dyna Lync Inc., and Jan Port of Jan Port Accounting share some laughs at the event
Fayen d’Evie of UPEACE, Martin McSkimming President of Hemingway’s Restaurant, CIIA Toronto VP Rebecca Low, Ross Pinkerton President of ERA Canada, and Jock Logan of Dyna Lync Inc. enjoy sampling New Zealand’s fine wines
Members of the audience at the New Zealand event mingle and discuss issues.
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