Aussie visit a priority
New NZ leader plans to reaffirm close ties
FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has congratulated New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, despite previously suggesting she could have difficulty trusting the new prime minister’s Labour Party.
A month after the election, NZ First leader Winston Peters announced yesterday he was forming a coalition government with Labour, ending nine years of National rule.
Ms Bishop noted Australia has a strong and deep relationship with New Zealand.
“I congratulate her on her election as prime minister ... I am looking forward to working with the new government,” she said in Canberra.
Ms Ardern said she intended to make an official visit to Australia as soon as possible. There might be some initial awkwardness in Australian-New Zealand relations following Ms Ardern’s rise to power.
In August, Ms Bishop accused the New Zealand Opposition of conspiring to undermine the Government.
She said Australia’s Labor Opposition had used its New Zealand counterparts to raise questions about Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s Kiwi citizenship in the New Zealand parliament.
“This is highly unethical at least, but more importantly it puts at risk the relationship between the Australian government and the New Zealand government,” Ms Bishop said at the time.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull phoned Ms Ardern yesterday evening to convey his congratulations. The pair reaffirmed the strength of the Australian-NZ relationship and said they looked forward to working together.