European Parliament Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand (DANZ) visit Auckland and Wellington 23-26 February 2020 Report on the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand (DANZ) visit 23-26 February 2020 Background The European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand (DANZ) and the New Zealand Parliament have regular exchange meetings. This year it was the turn of DANZ to visit New Zealand for the 24th Inter-parliamentary meeting. As the visit was on a non-sitting week for the New Zealand Parliament, this meeting was held in Auckland to enable easier attendance for New Zealand parliamentarians. This was followed by meetings in Wellington, including with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three New Zealand Cabinet Ministers and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. DANZ’s visit this year was comprised of a larger delegation than usual. Eight members of the European Parliament (MEPs) came to New Zealand, including a Vice President. The members were from five of the six main political groups in the European Parliament – the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Renew Europe, the Greens/European Free Alliance and the European Conservatives and Reformists. 1 The DANZ visit was led by Chairperson, Ulrike Müller MEP, who also led the previous delegation to New Zealand in 2018.2 Inter-parliamentary meeting The 2020 meeting was held on Monday 24th February. The New Zealand Members of Parliament who attended are listed at the end of this report. Also in attendance was the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to New Zealand HE Nina Obermaier, EU Delegation First Secretary Per Sjonell and a representative of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 1 The Delegation itself has members from all the European Parliament political groups/non-attached. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/danz/members 2 https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/european-visitors-strengthen-bilateral-ties/ The discussions covered a range of subjects focusing on the interests of members of both delegations but were centred on agenda topics: political developments in the EU, particularly since the departure of the United Kingdom; environment and climate change; and economy, trade and migration. Issues related to the Pacific continued over a working lunch. Back row. from left to right: Morten Løkkegaard MEP, Iului Winker, MEP, Gabrielle Bischoff MEP, Louisa Wall MP, Kosma Złotowski MEP, Tim van de Molen MP, Alex Voss MEP, Monika Vana MEP, Rt Hon David Carter MP, Deborah Russell MP, Pedro Silva Pereira MEP Front row, left to right: Ulrike Müller MEP, Deputy Speaker Hon Anne Tolley MP, Marja Lubeck MP Chair of the European Parliament DANZ and the Co-Chairs, NZ-Europe Parliamentary Friendship Group Meetings within Parliament 25 February The New Zealand Speaker, Rt Hon Trevor Mallard, held an official meeting with the delegation accompanied by Assistant Speaker Adrian Rurawhe, MP. Ms Muller and the Speaker discussed the inter-parliamentary meeting in Auckland, recent changes in the EU and the negotiations for a New Zealand – EU Free Trade Agreement with the role of the European Parliament. The Speaker reaffirmed the close and broad ranging cooperation New Zealand has with the EU and its member states. He welcomed the continuing inter-parliamentary exchange, noting the presence of the Vice President. The Speaker also welcomed Ms Müller and Ms Vana’s return to New Zealand and the wide parliamentary representation on this delegation; this being the first visit since the 2019 European Parliament election and the first since the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU. Photo left: Rt Hon Trevor Mallard, Speaker with Ulrike Müller, Chair, DANZ. Photo right: The Speaker with Assistant Speaker Adrian Rurawhe, MP (on the right) with the delegation The delegation also met with Ministers Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Māori Development and Local Government, Associate Minister of Trade and Economic Growth; Hon James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change and Hon Aupito William Sio, Minister for Pacific Peoples. These meetings concentrated on issues relating to the Ministers’ portfolios but also enabled the delegation to hear about New Zealand government approaches, including with the recent well-being budget. With Hon Nanaia Mahuta, the DANZ MEPs discussed developments so far in the NZ- EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Vice-Chair Axel Voss MEP also talked about developments in the EU on digital space and data protection. The MEPS also asked about the Māori economy and the Minister discussed her Maori Development portfolio. The meeting with Hon James Shaw also discussed the economy but primarily focussed on environment issues, renewable energy and climate change policies, and the EU Green Deal3. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en Hon Aupito William Sio briefed the delegation on New Zealand relationships in the Pacific and also with Pasifika peoples in New Zealand4. DANZ members discussed with the Minister development-aid in the Pacific and the role of the EU as well as security issues in the Pacific. Meetings outside Parliament In Auckland, DANZ members were briefed on the history of the local Māori iwi (tribe) Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the ahi kaa, Keepers of the Fire/ land, of the Tāmaki isthmus area for the past 300 years. They heard about the original conquest and occupation of the area and the arrival of European settlers. They were also briefed on the consequences of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei being indigenous people located in the central area in what became New Zealand’s largest city, and about their current economic success and education opportunities. This was an opportunity for DANZ members to be introduced to history in Aotearoa New Zealand and know more and directly of issues and successes for this iwi. The delegation also visited Westbrook winery to the west of Auckland city. This winery had its origins with the Ivicevich family from Croatia (then in Yugoslavia) in 1937 and Westbrook winery came to fruition in 1985. It moved to the Waimauku valley in 1999, with chardonnay being its major success. The delegation learnt about this example of the blossoming and success of the New Zealand wine industry. At the Auckland War Museum/ Tāmaki Paenga Hira, DANZ members were welcomed at the Māori Court/He Taonga Māori, shown the untold Journey to Aotearoa exhibition featuring the 1769 Captain Cook voyage to New Zealand with the Tahitian high priest and navigator Tupaia. This exhibition narrated the first meetings of Māori with Europeans and was part of the Tuia 2505 which encouraged a rethinking and conversations in the country of what happened in 1769 and initial European exploration in the Pacific. This was an introduction before DANZ members were briefed on the Museum’s natural science work in the Pacific. In particular this 4 The largest Pasifika population in New Zealand is Samoan, with other larger communities being Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Niuean, Fijian, Tokelauan, and Tuvaluan. 5 “Tuia – Encounters 250 was a commemoration in 2019 marking 250 years since the first onshore encounters between Māori and Pākehā in 1769. Tuia 250 celebrated Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific voyaging heritage and was a national opportunity to hold honest conversations about the past, the present and how we navigate our shared future.” New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage was about coastal marine biodiversity of the Southwest Pacific region and also the place of Aotearoa New Zealand science and conservation work in the Pacific. Looking at a recent New Zealand start-up business, DANZ members visited Mint Innovation’s pre-commercial plant in Auckland. This small bio-refinery “uses microorganisms to scavenge precious metals from complex waste streams”6 providing local e-waste solutions for recyclers at a local or region level. They were shown how the plant deals with electronic waste and gold, copper and other recovered minerals. 6 https://www.mint.bio/ The company has been nominated for New Zealand’s 2020 Hi-Tech Awards In Wellington, Paul Eagle MP (Labour Party) and Barbara Kuriger MP (National Party) met up with the DANZ members, providing an adjunct to the meetings at Parliament and discussions on issues at the local and national level for Members of the two Parliaments. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, DANZ members met with Deputy Secretary Trade and Economic and Chief Negotiator for the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement7 Vangelis Vitalis and his team. The delegation was comprehensively briefed on the current status of the negotiations and had conversations on the path going forward and the role of the European and national parliaments in due course. Conclusion The 24th inter-parliamentary meeting and those with the Speaker, Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade were conducted in a very open and positive way. This led to excellent exchanges and, with site visits, enabled the delegation to gain deeper insights into New Zealand and the relationship. 7 https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/agreements-under-negotiation/eu-fta/ Programme Saturday 22 February Arrivals in Auckland Sunday 23 February Arrivals in Auckland (through to the last delegate on early Monday 24 February) Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau Tāmaki Hīkoi - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Westbrook Winery Monday 24 February Auckland