Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives

For immediate release: 29 May 2015

Release of Global Connections, a Better Parliament – the New Zealand Parliament’s Draft Inter-Parliamentary Relations Strategy, 2015-2019.

Parliament’s international connections help promote New Zealand’s national interests and strengthen our Parliament. They give other countries an understanding of our representative democracy and the confidence to invest in our economy, as well as growing the knowledge and understanding of New Zealand members of Parliament.

With this in mind, the Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter, has released the draft inter-parliamentary relations strategy “Global Connections, a Better Parliament.” The draft strategy proposes a clear vision for Parliament’s inter-parliamentary relations, to be achieved by 2019.

“In a globalised world, inter-parliamentary relations are an important part of modern international affairs. The draft strategy addresses our Parliament’s relationships and contribution to the international parliamentary community. It also considers how members of Parliament can be effective members of that community,” said the Speaker.

“The draft strategy also allows us to take a much more strategic approach to our inter-parliamentary relations, by making good use of limited resources.”

“The New Zealand Parliament is already an active and well respected member of the international community. We engage fully with important organisations like the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which works towards what New Zealanders value, such as peace, and the establishment and maintenance of representative democracy around the world.”

“Closer to home, we actively support parliamentary capacity building and strengthening activities in the Pacific. Our commitment can be shown by our support for the newly formed and democratically elected Fijian Parliament,” adds the Speaker.

Over the next two months the draft strategy will be reviewed by members of Parliament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Visits and Ceremonial Office, the parliaments of the Pacific and Australia, and other international partners. It’s expected to be published in September.

• Read the Frequently Asked Questions about Inter-Parliamentary Relations

• Read the Global Connections, a Better Parliament – the New Zealand

Parliament’s Draft Inter-Parliamentary Relations Strategy, 2015-2019.

ENDS

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