Johnson reaffirms bond
WELLINGTON: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says New Zealand and Britain will continue to stand together in a ‘‘world still full of threats’’.
Mr Johnson made the comments shortly after unveiling a striking new Weta Workshopdesigned UK Memorial at Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park yesterday.
He also said he was keen on the idea of developing some sort of ‘‘Commonwealth countries’’ visa, which would recognise the links between Britain and countries such as New Zealand.
Mr Johnson apologised for visaprocessing delays that had affected some New Zealanders, and also said New Zealand was near the top of the queue for free trade agreement negotiations, once Brexit was complete.
Nearly 5m high, the new memorial is designed to show the trunks of a royal oak and a pohutukawa intertwining to form a canopy made of stained glass ‘‘leaves’’ and ‘‘flowers’’ that shine red, green and purple in the sun.
A silhouette of a single soldier is featured between the branches.
‘‘It is a beautiful symbol of the continued growing together of our nations, but also a memorial of what we did together in the past,’’ Mr Johnson said as he walked to lay a wreath at the nearby Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
‘‘It is vital we do remember the sacrifice we made jointly, because the world is still full of threats, and I’m afraid that New Zealand and Britain are going to have to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder. And we will.’’
British High Commissioner Jonathan Sinclair said the memorial was the result of four years of work, and said particular thanks was due to Sir Richard Taylor and the Weta team.
Members of the public gathered to watch the unveiling stood in silence during a blessing and prayer, including a lone protester holding up a sign accusing Mr Johnson of closing fire stations during his time as London mayor.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Johnson visited Kaikoura’s Takahanga marae, where he joked that the ‘‘beautiful’’ hongi he received ‘‘might be misinterpreted in a pub in Glasgow’’.
Mr Johnson thanked representatives of the marae for the hospitality they gave British tourists who were stranded in the area after the earthquakes last November.
Of his first visit to New Zea land, Mr Johnson said he was ‘‘ashamed’’ it had taken him so long to get here, saying it was the ‘‘most mindglowingly, mindnumbingly beautiful country that I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘And I think probably the only landscape that I can think of that can conceivably do justice to the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings.’’
Prime Minister Bill English said the talks with Mr Johnson promised to be interesting.
‘‘We are all familiar with the Foreign Secretary’s eloquence.’’
Security issues, the Pacific and New Zealanders’ rights to work and live in Britain will be among the issues discussed in Mr Johnson’s talks with the Government, as well as trade and the negotiation of a future free trade agreement once Brexit is concluded.
Mr Johnson has long been an advocate for Britain to make better use of the Commonwealth in its foreign policy, and during his time as London mayor he said Australians and New Zealanders should be able to live and work freely in Britain.
He acknowledged the great number of young Kiwis who travel to live and work in the UK.
‘‘That’s a great thing. We’re trying to make sure that happens as smoothly as possible.
‘‘I’m a great believer in making sure talented people, energetic people, who want to come to our country should be able to do so,’’ Mr Johnson said.
‘‘Provided, of course, that it’s controlled and it’s done in a democratic way, just as you would insist on here in New Zealand.’’
However, his Conservative Party has promised to cut net migration.
On the increase in health surcharges for migrant workers in Britain, including Kiwis, Mr English said the setting of charges was up to the British Government.
‘‘We set ours, they set theirs. Our primary focus is on being able to maintain and improve access,’’ Mr English said.
Mr Johnson would be told of the Government’s ongoing interest on improving New Zea landers’ rights in Britain.
‘‘We have to be realistic about the position Britain is in as it embarks, just in the last few weeks, on its negotiations with the European Union.’’
Mr English said the United Kingdom had some way to go before it could progress trade deal negotiations with New Zealand, and agriculture would be a ‘‘challenging’’ aspect. — NZME