Visit to by Professor Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag, Federal Republic of Germany

7–8 October, 10–13 October 2016

Background The visit by Professor Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag, was intended as another important step in German–New Zealand inter-parliamentary and bilateral engagement. It was to follow that of Chancellor Merkel in 2014. In addition the visit was to showcase New Zealand as a modern and diverse society, to share perspectives and demonstrate New Zealand–German connections. As the visit was to coincide with the 20th anniversary of New Zealand’s first MMP election, it was to serve as an opportunity to further discuss political systems and the way the respective parliaments work. It was also another step in Speaker-led diplomacy. The New Zealand Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter, had visited Germany in April 2015 and he invited Professor Lammert to come to New Zealand.

Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, meeting with Professor Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag

Meetings within Parliament The German delegation was first welcomed to Parliament with a mihi whakatau (welcoming ceremony) in Matangireia (former Māori Affairs Committee room). Professor Lammert and his delegation met with Mr Speaker after the mihi whakatau and were hosted by the New Zealand–Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group for lunch before being introduced to the House. Mr Speaker later hosted an official dinner for the delegation. The New Zealand attendees included Grant Robertson MP, MP, Dr Kennedy Graham MP and Jenny Salesa MP. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon , also met with Professor Lammert and his delegation, as did the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, the Attorney-General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Christopher Finlayson, and the Minister for Primary Industries, Hon . These meetings covered a wide spectrum of subjects; a reflection of similar values and like-minded approaches to international developments between New Zealand and Germany. The discussions covered EU developments and the British vote to leave the EU, trade and business relationships and the proposed New Zealand–European Union Free Trade Agreement. In addition they covered regional relationships for Germany and New Zealand, the ’s approach to treaty settlements with Māori, and refugee issues particularly for Germany and New Zealand’s approach to refugee resettlement. Mr Speaker hosted an event in the Grand Hall, Parliament House for the 20th anniversary of New Zealand’s first general election under the MMP voting system. Germany is one of the countries that also uses MMP and this is a talking point in New Zealand–Germany inter-parliamentary relations. At the event, Professor Lammert expounded on MMP and on democracy in society to an audience of members of Parliament, diplomatic corps, academia and students, and other invited guests. His speech was well-received.

Professor Norbert Lammert speaking at the MMP event

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Meetings outside Parliament Professor Lammert was keen to undertake media opportunities and discuss German approaches to issues on New Zealand radio. As a result he had interviews with Radio New Zealand and Access Radio and the reporter Richard Harman. The Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre hosted the delegation for an inter- agency briefing on New Zealand’s policy and approaches and a discussion on the positives and the challenges for refugees and agencies. Professor Lammert spent time meeting with some refugees to hear first-hand accounts from them. Business and science connections, which also involved meeting with Germans working in New Zealand, were discussed through meeting with the New Zealand– German Business Association and a lunch hosted by the German Ambassador. The visit coincided with the German Embassy National Day event in Wellington. The visit to Weta Workshop Group demonstrated New Zealand creative industry and the visit to Zealandia provided learning on New Zealand conservation and environment approaches. The visit to the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa enabled more discussion on Māoritanga and the , and provided the opportunity to experience youth engagement, when a visiting Māori school class performed for the delegation. In , a highlight was the visit to the Otara Market with two New Zealand local Pasifika members of Parliament, Aupito William Sio and Jenny Salesa, introducing the delegation to aspects of Pacific culture and community in New Zealand. Associate Professor Damon Salesa from the Centre for Pacific Studies, , helped provide insights for the German delegation before their trip to Tonga.

Aupito William Sio MP, Professor Lammert and Jenny Salesa MP at the Otara Market

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The delegation also met over lunch with Jeff Johnstone, Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, to discuss the New Zealand relationship with Asian countries and the participation of the various Asian communities and students in New Zealand society. Earlier visits to SkyCity and Devonport provided exposure to different aspects of Auckland, the city centre and views and then a ferry ride to more of a small-town feel in Devonport and its walking trail to Mt Wellington. In Wellington, Professor Lammert laid a wreath at the Pukeahu National War Memorial accompanied by Rt Hon David Carter and later the delegation placed poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior before proceeding to tour the Memorial Park. The delegation then toured the Great War Exhibition, which covers the World War One years, and the delegation later went to Te Papa Tongarewa to see the Gallipoli: the scale of our war exhibition. The exhibits provided perspectives of the impact of the First World War on New Zealand, itself reinforced when the delegation had visited Parliament and seen the name references to battle conflicts in the House of Representatives, as well as in art works. Conclusion As Professor Lammert and his delegation met with Mr Speaker, a sizeable number of New Zealand members of Parliament from different parties, the New Zealand Prime Minister and four Ministers, the visit covered the inter-parliamentary and bilateral objectives of the visit. The delegation was exposed to young and older New Zealanders, seeing New Zealand as the diverse society that it is. The delegation visited Otara, Mangere, Devonport, Miramar, Belmont and the central areas of Auckland and Wellington. The programme (attached) also covered German–New Zealand business and science interests and discussions on approaches to issues of particular interest to the delegation. It enabled Professor Lammert to address a wide audience through the media as well as at events that worked in well for the delegation visit, including the German Embassy National Day event and the 20th anniversary of New Zealand’s first MMP election.

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Programme Friday 7 October Arrival into Auckland Visit SkyCity and Devonport Dinner hosted by New Zealand–German Business Association Saturday 8 October Visit to Otara Market with Aupito William Sio MP and Jenny Salesa MP Visit to Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, accompanied by Aupito William Sio MP Lunch with Jeff Johnstone, Director, Asia–New Zealand Foundation at the Villa Maria Estate Departure for Tonga Monday 10 October Travel to Wellington Tuesday 11 October Mihi whakatau at Parliament

Professor Norbert Lammert and Rt Hon David Carter, Matangireia (former Māori Affairs Committee room)

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Thomas Henzchel, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Germany, Dr Muller, Ambassador Thiedemann, Dr Wadephul, Professor Lammert, Rt Hon David Carter, David Wilson, Clerk of the House, Rafael Gonzalez- Montero, Deputy Clerk of the House

Meeting with Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives

Rt Hon David Carter and Professor Norbert Lammert in the Speaker’s Lounge

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Wreath laying ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

Professor Norbert Lammert, Pukeahu National War Memorial Tour of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and Tour of Great War Exhibition Lunch with members of the New Zealand–Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group hosted by Chair, Mr , member of Parliament and Assistant Speaker Introduction to the House of Representatives and viewing question time Meeting with New Zealand on Air German Embassy National Day celebrations Wednesday 12 October Meeting with Hon Christopher Finlayson, Attorney General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Interview for “Morning Report” at Radio New Zealand Tour of Parliament Meeting with Hon Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries Lunch hosted by the German Ambassador, Gerhard Thiedemann Interview with Wellington Access Radio Call on Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister Meeting with Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs Reception to mark the 20th anniversary of New Zealand’s first MMP election Dinner hosted by Rt Hon David Carter MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives

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Thursday 13 October Tour of Zealandia wildlife sanctuary Visit to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, with tour of Gallipoli: the scale of our war and Māori Exhibition Tour of Weta Workshop Group Departure from New Zealand Delegation Professor Norbert Lammert President of the German Bundestag

Dr Johann Wadephul MP Chair of the Committee on the Scrutiny of Elections, Immunity and the Rules of Procedure, member of the Council of Elders, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Dr Lorenz Muller President’s Chief of Staff

Guido Large Deputy Chief of Bundestag Protocol

Frank Graef Interpreter

Dr Wadephul MP, Professor Norbert Lammert, Ambassador Thiedemann, Dr Lorenz Muller, Frank Graef and Guido Large at Parliament House, Wellington

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