Engagement vital in tricky times

We also need to recognise our relationships with these countries have many threads that go beyond trade and tourism statistics.

As just one example, over the past fortnight hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders have been enjoying Chinese New Year celebrations and lantern festivals across the country.

And it’s important that we recognise our relationship with Asia goes far beyond one country.

I’m always struck by the fact that online commentators on these columns will mention China, even if the column itself doesn’t mention it.

New Zealand has come a long way since 1994.

Our increased ties with Asia have enriched our lives in all sorts of ways.

At the mercantilist end, there’s the economic importance of exports, international education and tourism.

But at a more human level, we also enjoy the vibrancy that New Zealand’s increased Asian dimension brings.

I don’t think anyone would claim that we know enough about Asian countries yet. That’s why the people-to-people angle that McKinnon mentioned continues to matter so much.

Funnily enough, Shayne Carter, songwriter and vocalist for that awardwinning Straitjacket Fits album, is currently in Thailand on an artist residency supported by the foundation.

It was useful for us last week to also hear from one of our Asia Honorary Advisers, Thailand political commentator Thitinan Pongsudhirak, who noted that if the last 25 years had been dynamic and exciting vis-a` -vis Asia, the next 25 looked even more so.

The risk he warned New Zealand against was complacency in dealing with our Asia relationships which include, but are not solely, China.