Finnish leader arrives in NZ
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is leading a diplomatic mission down under, arriving in Auckland to meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Marin arrived in Auckland yesterday, before a planned meeting with Ardern today. She will also be travelling to Australia, where she is scheduled to deliver a public speech on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine later this week.
Marin was elected prime minister in 2019, after serving just four years in the Finnish Parliament. She became Finland’s youngest prime minister, taking office at 34.
In the years since, she has gained a reputation in pop culture as the ‘‘party prime minister’’. In December last year, she apologised for partying into the early hours of the morning without her work phone. She had missed a text message informing her that she had been in contact with someone who had Covid-19.
Video of Marin dancing at a house party also caused some debate in Finland, but led to a viral campaign in support of her.
She delivered an emotional speech in August, saying, ‘‘I am human’’ and discussing the importance of ‘‘joy, light and fun amidst the dark clouds’’.
Her response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also attracted the world’s attention. Marin moved to deepen Finland’s ties with Nato, and moved to formally join the military alliance.
Marin is leading a delegation including Finnish Trade Minister Ville Skinnari and businesses.
Ardern said their discussions would focus on free trade and ‘‘international issues’’.
’’We share similar approaches and views on many international issues, including the importance of the rule of law, multilateralism, sustainability, and free and open trade,’’ she said.
In July, Ardern visited Europe with Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to negotiate a free trade deal with the European Union. Countries such as Finland insisted that such a deal must focus on sustainability and climate change, with vocal agriculture and green lobbies raising concerns about the distance required to export anything from the South Pacific to Europe.
In response, Ardern focused her attention on promoting New Zealand’s ‘‘clean green’’ image, and argued that her Government
was serious about reducing agricultural emissions.
Following those discussions, Ardern said her meeting with Marin and Skinnari would centre on green business and digital trade.
Trade between the two nations has not been particularly large. According to Stats NZ, in the June 2022 quarter New Zealand exported just $4.47 million worth of goods and services to Finland, but imported $57.82m worth.