Peters takes swipe at US
Winston Peters says he will be reminding the United States of New Zealand's role in the Pacific
21 February 2006
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has taken a swipe at the country with which he wants to forge closer relations.
After delivering his first policy speech since taking the job, Mr Peters told journalists that countries like the United States and Britain have to acknowledge the role New Zealand plays in the Pacific.
Mr Peters says he will be reminding the United States of this when he visits the USA later this year.
He says there are countries that understand New Zealand's importance and involvement in the Pacific. He says New Zealand's relationship with China has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent years and he wants to expand it.
Mr Peters says he wants a broad based relationship with China and will be exploring new areas of cooperation. He says this country's relationship with China is important as it expands its influence in the Pacific. Mr Peters says the Chinese should understand that the indigenous people of New Zealand actually originated from China.
He has long opposed a free trade deal with China and when asked about it he dismissed the questions as tawdry.
During the same meeting, Mr Peters accused journalists of being racist, rounding on them when asked whether being a Maori would help him when it came to Pacific issues. He told them he would not answer racist questions and walked away.
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB
