reference the Government’s refusal to join with our Five Eyes partners in calling out China over the arrest and detention of 55 politicians and activists in Hongkong for violating the new security laws forced on the supposedly autonomous region by their CCVP masters.
Ardern and Mahuta are walking a diplomatic tightrope in not wishing to offend a major trading partner. They may just find that sitting on the fence can lead to a lose, lose situation particularly if Australia, the United States, the UK and Canada tire of New Zealand being seen as placing a bet both ways.
Our ‘independent’ foreign policy (so called) appears to be predicated on us not upsetting China. Right now China seems to be calling the shots with New Zealand reduced to saying ‘how high sir’. An independent foreign policy in name only dictated by China.
New Zealand the way you’ve got it.
No Minister 
Just after the elections here we did join 5 EYES in a statement on Hong Kong abuses.
https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-hong-kong-2/
Didn’t really change much then.
Same language independently this time round.
Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply concerned by the recent arrest of a number of pro-democracy advocates in #HongKong. This represents another effort to erode the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and further undermine the one country two systems framework..
China has already told 5 Eyes to butt out on their new statement and no doubt we can expect the same.
Oops forgot the latest.
We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, underscore our serious concern at the mass arrests of 55 politicians and activists in Hong Kong for subversion under the National Security Law.
The National Security Law is a clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermines the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework. It has curtailed the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. It is clear that the National Security Law is being used to eliminate dissent and opposing political views.
We call on the Hong Kong and Chinese central authorities to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong without fear of arrest and detention. It is crucial that the postponed Legislative Council elections in September proceed in a fair way that includes candidates representing a range of political opinions.
Noel … old hat two months ago. We’re talking about the Five Eyes statement and NZL disassociating itself from it. Smile at the Aotearoa New Zealand bit though. When did we change our name?
The Veteran
As you surely know, New Zealand does not slavishly follow the Five Eyes line. Been the case ever since 1985 and the nuclear free policy.
Will there be consequences if we don’t? Probably not, other than Australian politicians giving us little “lectures”, mostly in private. I know, I got some of them. But we also pushed back, in my case noting we had been suspended from the ANZUS pact, and as a result had more options. The heavy lifting by us in East Timor, Bougainville and The Solomons also shut them up.
As for the present, there will be no consequences of significance. What is Australia going to do? Suspend CER, ban apple imports?
End visa free entry (when we travel again).
I reckon it will be just the little lectures.
Wayne … understand but those little lectures have a way of morphing into something more substantial. The China of a decade ago (your time) ain’t the China of today. The dynamic has changed and at some point NZL will have to make a choice between its ‘cautious’ approach and the need to stand up and be counted.
“old hat two months ago”:.
Yes that is why I posted the new below.
The language is similar in ours and 5 Eyes..
As the Chinese have already rejected the 5 Eyes version no doubt ours will follow.
Totally ineffective “diplo speak” from all.: