APRIL 2021

IPR PĀNUI The latest from Parliament’s Inter-Parliamentary Relations team

FROM THE TEAM

Welcome! Haere Mai! IN THIS EDITION... Inter-Parliamentary Organisations The was formally opened in in the 53rd Parliament ...... 2 November 2020, and in the last few months legislators have been busy in the Chamber and committees. Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the 53rd Parliament ...... 4 Inter-Parliamentary activities have got off to an amazing start - we launched a new Inter- Tai a Kiwa update ...... 5 Parliamentary Strategy, held an exhibition celebrating our Tai a Kiwa Pacific connections, and Wāhine o te Paremata Women of released a short filmWāhine o te Pāremata Women Parliament film release ...... 6 of Parliament.

Cook Islands Prime Minister meets In this edition of the pānui we introduce you to NZ MPs ...... 6 the new Chairpersons of our Inter-Parliamentary Our IPR portfolios ...... 7 Organisations and Parliamentary Friendship Groups! Thank you for your support. Ngā mihi nui! The Inter-Parliamentary Relations team CONTACT

Get in touch with IPR at [email protected]

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@NZParliament CWP New Zealand Co-Chairs, MP and MP at the International Women’s Day Celebration Breakfast. 1 INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORGANISATIONS IN THE 53RD PARLIAMENT

The New Zealand Parliament participates in the activities of three key inter-parliamentary organisations: the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. These are global or regional forums that bring together parliamentarians to discuss global issues, propose solutions to international devel- opments, debate world events, and promote democratic ideals and practices.

Membership of these organisations provides opportunities for New Zealand members to engage with the international parliamentary community, contribute to global debates and solutions to international issues, to build networks, and to develop professionally. Participa- tion also contributes to getting matters of importance to New Zealand and the Pacific Region on the global agenda.

Full membership lists are available in the links to each group and we will update with news and events throughout the Parliament.

INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION NEW ZEALAND MP Chairperson

Louisa Wall MP (Labour Party) is committed to promoting human rights and equality, and developing initiatives that benefit our society and protect the rights of our most vulnerable. Louisa is a passionate member and advocate for the LGBTIQ+ Rainbow community. One of Louisa’s proudest moments was helping achieve marriage equality in New Zealand with the Marriage Amendment Act in 2013, and she continues to work with and for our community to ensure LGBTQI rights are upheld in New Zealand and globally. Louisa also served for 8-years as Co-Chair of our cross parliamentary women’s group advocating for legislative reform to end all forms of female genital mutilation in NZ which was achieved in August 2020.

Louisa’s goals for her time as IPU New Zealand Group Chair include advancing the role of parliamentarians in championing human rights defenders, protecting and realising human rights for LGBTIQ+ citizens, indigenous peoples and women with relevant stakeholders. Louisa believes that all of Parliament has a responsibility to hold governments to account. Louisa is also the Deputy Chair for Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) New Zealand and a member of Parliamentarians for Global Action.

COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION NEW ZEALAND Hon MP Chairperson

Hon Gerry Brownlee has served as a Senior Cabinet Minister in both the and led Governments, including as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister soon after a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck on September 4 2010.

His role expanded following 22 February 2011 when a 6.3 magnitude quake hit the city, killing 185 people and resulting in widespread residential and commercial prop- erty destruction. The earthquakes, and subsequent rebuild of New Zealand’s second largest city, are the country’s costliest event. Hon Gerry Brownlee has represented New Zealand as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Minister of Defence and had developed strong relationships with the Pacific. He is the Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee and serves on the Intelligence and Security Committee. 2 Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki MP CPW Pacific Steering Committee representative

Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki is the Labour List MP based in who was first elected to Parliament in 2017.

Tongan born and raised in New Zealand, Anahila has been able to act as a catalyst for action and change for women, social services and community groups. She is involved with Pacifica Inc, Tongan Language Year Committee, Radio Tonga, and is the VP of The New Zealand Tonga RFA. Anahila is also Chair on the Commonwealth Pacific Women Parliamentarians (CWP) where women delegates and MP’s unite to discuss causes affecting women in the Pacific regions and support representation of women in Parliament. Anahila will present at the CWP event in Uganda in September 2019. Wife and mother of five children and six grandchildren, Anahila has been a South resident since 2006. In her free time Anahila enjoys spending time with her family and cooking.

Anahila is a member of the Environment Select Committee and the Social Services and Community Select Committee. COMMONWEALTH WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS NEW ZEALAND Nicola Grigg MP Co-chairperson

Nicola Grigg is a first-term member of Parliament from the National Party. Nicola is not new to Parliament, however, with her career highlight to date being the years she spent working as a press secretary for both Hon , and Sir Bill English during his tenure as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister.

Nicola spent a number of years working as a reporter and newsreader for newsrooms around the country covering significant events including the Christchurch earthquakes, the Global Financial Cri- sis, and several elections. Member of Governance and Administration Select Committee. Party Spokesperson for Women, and Associate Spokesperson for Trade, Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Ingrid Leary MP Co-chairperson

Ingrid is a first-term member of Parliament from the Labour Party for the Taieri electorate which has drawn together urban South with parts of rural South . She has a strong, passionate voice representing the workers, beneficiaries, business people, superannuitants and farmers. Ingrid is a mother-of-three with proven experience in law, journalism, and public service. She has owned her own small business and understands the difference that stable leadership, health and safety, and economic security makes to the lives of people and their children.

Member of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee and Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee. Ingrid is also the New Zealand Parliament’s Ambassador for Women Political Leaders. ASIA-PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM NEW ZEALAND Dr James McDowall MP Chairperson

James is a first-term member of Parliament for the ACT party. James has a PhD, a young family, and speaks fluent Chinese.

He has led the development of ACT’s Firearm Policy in the wake of the Government’s 2019 Arms Amendment Act. James owns several small businesses, including an immigration law firm. He has also worked for a large NGO in the mental health sector.

James is a member of the Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee and Party Spokesperson for Economic Development, Research, Science and Innovation, Immigration, Defence and Tourism. 3 PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUPS Parliamentary Friendship Groups help deepen New Zealand’s relations with other countries and assist in promoting parliamentary democracy. The groups provide members with opportunities for direct engagement with legislators from other countries and enhance understanding of re- gional and global issues, including through engagement with diplomatic and expatriate commu- nities. There are eight groups in the 53rd Parliament.

Full membership lists are available in the links to each group and we will update with news and events throughout the Parliament. NEW ZEALAND - AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND - EUROPE

Hon MP and Louisa Wall MP MP and MP NEW ZEALAND - LATIN NEW ZEALAND - AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

Ricardo Menédez March MP and MP MP and MP NEW ZEALAND - NEW ZEALAND - NORTH AMERICA NORTH AND CENTRAL ASIA

Adrian Rurawhe MP and Nicola Grigg MP MP and MP 4 NEW ZEALAND - SOUTH NEW ZEALAND - PACIFIC AND SOUTH EAST ASIA

Anahila Kanongata’a Suisuiki MP and Hon Gerry Brownlee MP Melissa Lee MP and Greg O’Connor MP

TAI A KIWA

New Zealand Parliament’s longstanding friendship and diplomacy with its Pacific parliamentary neighbours s celebrated in Parliament’s first exhibition of 2021.

Tai a Kiwa: Stronger Pacific Parliaments is a New Zealand Parliament initiative which provides programmes, support and technical assistance to parliaments in the Pacific. Tai a Kiwa works with Pacific parliaments to build capability, capacity and efficiency.You can learn more about Tai a Kiwa here.

This exhibition showcased gifts from Pacific nations from the New Zealand Parliamentary Collection, from 1925 to today. It also included photos captured by The House reporter Daniela Maoate-Cox as she travelled with New Zealand Parliament’s most recent delegations to the Pacific; a Speaker-led delegation to the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Fiji in 2019, and with the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians to Niue in 2020.

Daniela said she was very impressed by how “full on” both these trips were, in that MPs had a packed itinerary learning about the countries, their people, and New Zealand Parliament’s role there. Accompanying the MPs helped her understand how relationships were vital in ensuring New Zealand and these Pacific countries were able to help one another.

Photos by Radio New Zealand The House reporter Daniela Maoate-Cox. 5 Wāhine o te Paremata Women of Parliament

The New Zealand Parliament released a short film on International Women’s Day:Wāhine o te Paremata Women of Parliament: A documentary short film. Please watch, share, and enjoy this short film to help spread the important message about the role women have played, and continue to play, in New Zealand’s politics and society.

The film explores the experiences, battles, and triumphs that brought women and women parliamentarians in Aotearoa to where they are New Zealand parliamentarians past and present join to today. Women interviewed exclusively for the film celebrate International Women’s Day include the Governor-General of New Zealand, Rt Hon Dame ; former Speaker of the House, Rt Hon ; Leader of the Opposition, Hon ; and many more.

Women current and former members of Parliament from across the political spectrum came together mid-March to celebrate International Women’s Day and watch the short film.

COOK ISLANDS PRIME MINISTER MEETS NEW ZEALAND MPS First inter-parliamentary visit since February 2020

Hon. Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, visited Parliament on 29 and 30 March and met with the Pacific Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Māori Affairs Select Committee.

As the first official visit to New Zealand since February 2020, the novelty of talking face to face with an international partner was not lost on the parliamentarians present. A wide range of topics, including a travel bubble, vaccine roll-out, economic recovery, the Crimes The New Zealand-Pacific Parliamentary Friendship Group meet with Cook Islands Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown Bill and human rights, were traversed. It was clear that whilst both countries had faced similar challenges over the past year, the social, economic, and structural impact differs – and New Zealand parliamentarians have an important role in influencing decisions to manage any negative effects from this diversion.

That said, welcoming an international visitor gave hope for a return to a more traditional form of inter-parliamentary relations - and the beautiful photos brought by the Prime Minister of his home country certainly made the Cook Islands a must visit for many MPs and staff! 6 MEET THE IPR TEAM

REGIONS ORGANISATIONS SUBJECTS

• Africa • Inter-Parliamentary • Security, peace, and • Middle East Union disarmament • United Kingdom • Human rights Wendy Hart • Interaction between Senior IPR Adviser IPU and UN Portfolios

REGIONS ORGANISATIONS SUBJECTS

• Latin America and • American Council • Health, drug Caribbean of Young Political reform, mental • North America Leaders (ACYPL) health • Europe (except the • European • Trade Winton Holmes United Kingdom) Parliament • Food and water Senior IPR Adviser Exchange security Portfolios • Canadian Political • Defence and Exchange emergency management

REGIONS ORGANISATIONS SUBJECTS

• Asia • Asia Pacific • Indigenous rights Parliamentary • Gender rights Forum • Sustainable Carmen Maran • Commonwealth Development IPR Adviser Women Portfolios Parliamentarians

REGIONS ORGANISATIONS SUBJECTS

• Pacific (Tai a Kiwa) • Commonwealth • Environment and • Australia Parliamentary climate Association • Governance and Regional Secretariat democracy Megan Robins • Australian IPR Adviser Political Exchange; Portfolios Committee Exchange

Stephanie Maiava Parliamentary Engagement coordinator

Inter-Parliamentary Relations Members of Parliament FIND OUT Inter-Parliamentary Relations videos Select Committees MORE HERE: House Sitting Calendar Parliament on Demand77