Southern Africa File
April 2015 — July 2015 Issue 8
In this issue…
ANZAC Day 2015 2
NZ Director for Middle East and Africa visits the continent 3
High Commissioner Mann visits Kenya 4
His Excellency Shane Jones presents credentials in 5 Mauritius Elephants cross the Chobe River, Botswana New Zealand & Botswana Beef Training Initiative launched 6 Photo: Richard Mann Clover Fonterra Ingredients celebrates a decade of dairy 7 excellence Second Secretary visits Tanzania and Zambia 8
New Zealand Honorary Consul for Mauritius receives NZ 8 honour Supporting agriculture initiatives in Rwanda and Ethiopia 9
Growing capacity among avocado farmers in Kenya 10 All Blacks take on the Springboks at Ellis Park 11
New Zealand hosts U-20 World Cup 11
English language training for African officials in NZ 12 Overlooking the waterfront in Dar es Salaam Photo: Adam Linnell Staff changes in the High Commission 12
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Inside the core of Ponte City, Johannesburg Photo: Danie Beukman
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ANZAC Day 2015: commemorating 100 years
On the morning of 25 April 2015, New Zealanders and Australians gathered together across the world in commemoration of ANZAC Day.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps’ landing at Gallipoli, in Turkey, during World War One. Every year, Australians and New Zealanders remember the sacrifice made by the servicemen and women who have served A crowd gathers at Freedom Park in Pretoria for this year’s ANZAC their countries, and lost their lives, in times Day dawn service of war.
In Pretoria, several hundred people braved the brisk April morning to mark ANZAC Day with a special Dawn Service at Freedom Park. This was followed by a reception hosted by Australian High Commissioner Adam McCarthy. Similar services were held across the African continent, including in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, with High Commissioner Richard Mann lays a wreath on behalf of the New Zealand represented by our Honorary New Zealand Government Consuls. These services demonstrate ANZAC Day’s ongoing importance to New Zealanders and Australians, even thousands of kilometres from our own shores.
Centenary commemorations in Turkey drew over 9000 New Zealanders and Australians, including the Prime Ministers of both countries, as well as Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Prince Harry, a number of ministers, and senior government representatives. High Commissioner Mann delivers the ANZAC Day eulogy
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New Zealand Director for Middle East and Africa visits the continent
In June, Jeff Langley, Director for
Middle East and Africa at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to the African continent to carry out official calls across the region.
Over the course of the UN Security
Council campaign, New Zealand stressed the importance of consulting widely on key issues both with neighbours, and with those Jeff Langley with Mr Manuel Augusto, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, further afield, to ensure our in Luanda, Angola. Photo: Gaspar Dos Santos, ANGPOP contribution was constructive and meaningful. Mr Langley’s visit to Africa represented New Zealand’s effort to deliver on this commitment.
In Pretoria, Mr Langley met with counterparts at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to discuss New Zealand’s bilateral relationship with South Africa, as well as a range of issues relating to peace and security in the Africa and the Middle East. In the first six-months of New Zealand’s two-year term on the UN Security Council, Mr Langley has worked closely on the range of issues on the Council’s agenda that are relevant to the African continent. Discussions with South Africa covered the Middle East Peace Process, Yemen, the DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and Burundi.
As well as Pretoria, Mr Langley’s visit took him to Egypt and Angola (accompanied in Luanda by High Commissioner Mann). In both countries, Mr Langley carried out consultations on UNSC matters with Foreign Ministry counterparts. In Cairo, he met with officials from the Arab League, as well as the Multinational Force and Observers (to which New Zealand contributes troops). Mr Langley also spent time in Accra, Ghana, where New Zealand has placed a diplomat for the duration of our term on the UN Security Council to engage on peace and security issues in the West Africa region.
For the month of July New Zealand held the Presidency of the UNSC. This provided an opportunity for New Zealand to convene an open debate for all UN member states on the peace and security challenges facing Small Islands Developing States, a large number of which sit in the Pacific region, as well as in the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.
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High Commissioner Mann visits Kenya
High Commissioner Richard Mann was in Kenya in July, where he paid a visit to the Osiligi Rehabilitation Farm on the outskirts of Nairobi. The farm, run by New Zealander Robin Aim, operates a project called “Afri-Lift”.
Afri-Lift provides agricultural High Commissioner Mann stands in front of the new tractor with Afri-Lift training and life skills to boys from participants the streets of Nairobi, to enable them to enter employment or to run their own businesses in the agricultural sector. The two- year programme on the farm has a 70% success rate in placing the young men into paid employment on commercial farms.
While on the farm, Mann officially opened a new classroom block and handed over a tractor, funded by the New Zealand High Commission Fund and community groups in New Zealand. The Mann hands over a new plough and rotovator to an tractor will improve the agricultural efficiency of Afri-Lift participant. the farm, enable more of the farm to be brought into production, and enable the young trainees to learn tractor use and maintenance—broadening their employment opportunities.
While in Nairobi, Mann met with Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed. The two discussed initiatives to develop the New Zealand—Kenya bilateral relationship. They also considered regional security issues that were on the UN Security Council’s agenda, particularly those affecting Kenya’s neighbours in East Africa. Mann with Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed
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His Excellency Shane Jones presents credentials in Mauritius
New Zealand has a new High Commissioner to
Mauritius. His Excellency Shane Jones (former Member of Parliament) was in Mauritius in early April, accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Danie Beukman, to present his credentials to then- President Kailash Purryag. While in Mauritius, Mr Jones met with the Prime Minister and a range of government ministers, including the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Ocean Economy.
The meetings provided an opportunity to explore High Commissioner Shane Jones with Sir Anerood Jugnauth, possible areas of cooperation between Prime Minister of Mauritius New Zealand and Mauritius, particularly in fisheries and the ocean economy.
Mr Jones called on leaders of the Indian Ocean Commission and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The regional work of these two organisations shares much in common with the goals and objectives of the Pacific Islands Forum, and Mr Jones was able to compare notes on areas of interest such as fisheries, transport linkages, and disaster HE Shane Jones presents his credentials to then-President of preparedness. Mauritius Kailash Purryag
No visit by a New Zealand High Commissioner to Mauritius would be complete without calling in to EdenDale Distributors. Run by one of New Zealand’s longest-serving Honorary Consuls, Harold Liu Man
Hin, Edendale is responsible for importing and distributing a number of Fonterra dairy products to Mauritius. High Commissioner Jones had a chance to tour the factory and talk with staff.
High Commissioner Jones is based in Auckland. For any enquiries about New Zealand’s relationship High Commissioner Jones meets with New Zealand’s with Mauritius, please contact Danie Beukman Honorary Consul to Mauritius , Mr Harold Liu Man Hin ([email protected]).
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New Zealand & Botswana Beef Training Initiative launched
On 5 May, the Governments of New Zealand and
Botswana officially launched the Beef Training
Initiative in Botswana. At the signing ceremony in
Ramatlabama, Botswana Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Patrick Pule Ralotsia, officially launched the programme, before signing a Memorandum of Understanding with New Zealand High Commissioner Richard Mann.
This programme has Minister of Agriculture Honourable Patrick Pule Ralotsia
been developed in & New Zealand High Commissioner Richard Mann sign the MOU response to a request from Botswana for New Zealand’s assistance in the beef sector. It aims to improve the delivery of practical, industry-led vocational livestock training and extension services to contribute to increased productivity and incomes in Botswana’s communal beef sector. New Zealand has partnered with tertiary education provider Land Based Training (LBT), based in Whanganui, New Zealand. LBT will implement the multi-year
capacity-building training programme for NZ$700,000 over the next three years.
Trainee Farmers with High The Beef Training Initiative will train extension staff, communal Commissioner Mann farmers and their herdsmen. This will fill a gap in seasonal practical training that is available locally, and will incorporate new technologies and research from New Zealand.
Local agricultural tutors with expertise in a number of specialist topics including animal health, farm management, breeding and nutrition, will train extension workers quarterly on topics relevant to each season. The extension workers will also be mentored to impart this knowledge to their farmers and herdsmen. The course content has been reviewed to ensure it avoided duplication with existing opportunities in Botswana, and Mann tours the training facility will be accredited with the Botswana Qualification Authority.
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Clover Fonterra Ingredients celebrates a decade of dairy excellence
Another historic event has taken place between New Zealand and South Africa – not on the sporting field this time, but in the field of business.
The High Commission congratulates Clover Fonterra
Ingredients (CFI) on celebrating its 10-year anniversary!
CFI is a joint venture between Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited and Clover SA (Pty) Ltd, the largest dairy manufacturer in South Africa. High Commissioner Richard Mann addresses the Clover Fonterra Ingredients 10-year Anniversary Celebration. A black-tie event was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in May 2015 to celebrate this successful partnership, attended by High Commissioner Richard Mann and the CFI Board of Directors (including the two new Fonterra
Directors Hans Huistra and Brendan Ryan).
The event enabled CFI to showcase and celebrate the many successes achieved over the past 10 years, and allowed the partners to focus on future opportunities for this strong commercial partnership. The joint venture Clover Fonterra Ingredients CEO Michael Jones shows his true colours at the CFI Anniversary Celebration was formed to promote the dairy ingredients business within South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Fonterra’s expertise, innovations, and technology form a vital part of the service CFI offers to their customers. CFI has also been active in the local community, supporting the Sir Edmund Hillary Primary School Leadership Camp. Now in its fifth year, the camp provides leadership training for around 550 learners.
CFI has grown from strength to strength, with turnover of over R1billion. The High Commission looks forward to the future of this exciting joint venture, and wishes Clover Fonterra Ingredients all the best for another successful decade ahead!
New Zealand’s dairy sector is a central part of the country’s export economy, and New Zealand is a major player in international dairy trade. In 2014 New Zealand exported over NZD $15 billion in dairy products (over 95% of all domestic production) and produced around 33% of the world’s dairy exports. Export markets for New Zealand dairy products can be found all over the world, including in a number of well- established and newly emerging markets in North and sub-Saharan Africa. For more information on the New Zealand dairy sector, please contact [email protected].
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Second Secretary visits Dar es Salaam and Lusaka
In April 2015, Second Secretary Adam Linnell travelled to Tanzania and Zambia to meet with Foreign Ministry counterparts in both countries, as well as representatives from a number of other government departments. The meetings provided a valuable opportunity to discuss New Zealand’s relationship with these two countries, as well as respective government priorities.
Discussions covered a range of multilateral and peace Second Secretary Adam Linnell with Ambassador Celestine and security issues, including those relating to the Mushy, Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of United Nations Security Council. Holding Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Tanzania consultations with key partners in Africa, like Tanzania and Zambia, on peace and security issues is an important part of ensuring that New Zealand’s contribution to decision-making in the UNSC is meaningful and effective.
While in Lusaka, Linnell attended the Trade Law Centre’s (Tralac) annual conference, which brought together delegates from across the continent to discuss regional trade issues in Africa, including industrial development and regional integration.
New Zealand Honorary Consul for Mauritius receives New Zealand honour
New Zealand’s Honorary Consul to Mauritius, Mr Harold Liu Man Hin, travelled to Wellington with his family in May where he was invested as an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This
award recognises Harold’s services to New Zealand - Mauritius relations, following 27 years of service as
New Zealand’s Honorary Consul. New Zealand
Governor-General Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae presented the award at a ceremony held Mr Liu Man Hin with New Zealand Governor-General Lt Gen at Government House. The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae We warmly congratulate Harold on his success.
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New Zealand supports agriculture initiatives in Rwanda and Ethiopia...
The New Zealand Government is partnering with the Clinton Health
Access Initiative (CHAI), the UK’s Department for International
Development, and the ELMA
Foundation, to support the governments of Rwanda and Ethiopia to increase agricultural incomes and reduce malnutrition.
Earlier this year, New Zealand Aid Meeting with farmer cooperative members working with CHAI in Katigumba, Rwanda, near the Ugandan border. Programme representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade travelled to Rwanda and Ethiopia to monitor the development programme. New Zealand is supporting the agricultural component of the programme, targeted at increasing the yields of smallholder farmers through access to finance, inputs, and improved production methods and post-harvest systems.
The farmers the team met with in Rwanda
reported increases in the quality and quantity of
the maize they had produced. The farmers attributed this to the comprehensive training they received under the project, from land preparation to harvesting, which had enabled
them to improve their farming practices. They said that they could now differentiate between
good and bad seed, and space their seeds more
effectively. They also knew how to better
Rwandan farmers undertaking post-harvest sorting of their prepare and apply organic manure and fertilizers, maize in Katigumba, Rwanda and calculate their cost of production more accurately. Cooperative leaders also received training that improved the effectiveness of their cooperative’s planning, financial and business practices. Farmers appreciated the loans they had received from CHAI, as they did not require collateral—a barrier that many face to accessing finance.
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...and avocado farmers in Kenya
In partnership with New Zealand research institute Plant and Food Research and New Zealand avocado oil company Olivado, the New Zealand Government is supporting a programme to enhance the sustainable economic development of
Kenya’s agriculture sector.
The programme is focused on enhancing the production and postharvest systems of smallholder avocado farmers. Its “farm-to-market” New Zealand Aid Programme Deputy Director Kathleen Pearce inspects some avocado seedlings at the Practical model links 2,000 smallholder farmers to Olivado, Training Centre in Thika, Kenya a sustainable commercial supply chain, and provides farmers with training to improve their production and postharvest systems. This approach has been informed by country-specific research carried out by Plant and Food Research that carries important benefits for the wider industry.
New Zealand Aid Programme representatives travelled to Kenya in April to visit the nursery with which Plant and Food Research is working to develop new avocado seed
varieties. The nursery is located at the Practical Training Centre jointly managed by the Fresh Produce Exporters
Association of Kenya (FPEAK) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
New Zealand horticultural approaches are already being shared with the Kenyan partners. The delegation toured Viewing smallholder farmer’s avocado plantations in Muranga District. Olivado’s facilities, and met with some of the avocado farmers supplying the factory.
Avocado farmers appreciated the new skills they were learning from Olivado’s extension workers on how to enhance the productivity of their avocado crop. They noted their preference for Olivado’s supply chain model as the company undertook the harvesting and provided them with a favourable and guaranteed market. As a result, most of the farmers met were expanding their avocado production. The industry provides a low maintenance but worthwhile source of income, enabling farmers to meet their children’s educational needs and build better homes.
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The All Blacks take on the Springboks at Ellis Park
On 25 July the All Blacks returned to Ellis Park in Johannesburg to face off against the Springboks. The game, part of the four-team Rugby Championship series, brought the two teams together for the first time since South Africa’s victory over New Zealand last October.
It was a close match but after seventy tense minutes, (and with the scores tied 20 to 20) All Blacks captain Richie McCaw sealed the win for New Zealand bringing High Commissioner Richard Mann greets All Blacks captain the final score to 27 —20. Richie McCaw before the match
These teams are two of the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup later this year. Kick-off will take place in London on 18 September 2015.
Also watch out for... the New Zealand cricket team, the Black Caps, will tour South Africa in August. Recently
added to the bill is a tour of Zimbabwe, with a number of matches taking place in Harare. African women will take to the netball courts with New Zealand and other countries in the Netball World Cup to starting August 2015 in Sydney. 5th ranked Malawi and 6th ranked South Africa will be joined by qualifiers Uganda and Zambia.
Under-20 Football World Cup
From 30 May to 20 June, New Zealand played host to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Twenty-four teams battled it out over the three week period to secure the prestigious title.
Among the teams were the four qualifiers from the 2015
African U-20 Championship: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Mali midfielder Adama Traore celebrates his team’s win and Mali. After a tough set of matches Senegal and Mali Photo: New Zealand Herald reached the play-off game, where they battled it out for third and fourth place. After an exciting match, Mali took out the third place spot, beating Senegal 3 to 1. Meanwhile, a brave and valiant effort by the New Zealand All Whites wasn’t enough to overcome Portugal, which knocked the hosts out in the Round of 16.
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English Language Training for Officials: Course 4
New Zealand’s 4th English Language Training for
African Officials (ELTO) course began in April in Wellington at Victoria University, coming to an end
in June.
The participants were drawn from Foreign Ministries across the continent, representing 16 countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros,
Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Republic of
Congo, Senegal, Tunisia and Togo. ELTO participants, with New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Murray McCully The ELTO Africa programme is funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme in collaboration with the Victoria University of Wellington and Accent Learning. The theme for the latest course was “National and International Governance”. The next ELTO course is due to begin in October 2015.
ELTO participants pose together at Victoria The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade held a University of Wellington Pōwhiri to welcome the ELTO participants.
Staff changes in the High Commission
In June we said farewell to Ms Nokubulela Lindani, Policy Adviser at the High Commission, and to Mr Peter Monama, the High Commission’s driver. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours. The High Commission also recently bid farewell to Mr Dan Smidt, Immigration NZ Market Manager. Dan is now leading Immigration New Zealand’s office in Mumbai, India. We wish him, and wife Katie, good luck in their new assignment.
In July, we welcomed Ms Hlengiwe Sibiya, who has joined the administration team part-time.
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