Advancing New Zealand's bilateral and trade relationship with Poland   21 Apr 2015

A parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter, has been advancing the bilateral and trade relationship with Poland during the past week.

In Warsaw, the delegation met with the Speakers of both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy, Mr Janusz Piechocinski, and members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the Poland-New Zealand Parliamentary Group.

The delegation's visit to Poland reciprocated a number of recent visits by senior Polish members of Parliament to New Zealand, including by the Speaker of the Polish Senate, Marshal Borusewicz, who was hosted by the New Zealand Parliament in June last year. The Deputy Speaker of Poland also led a delegation of members of Parliament to New Zealand in November 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of the arrival of 734 Polish refugee "Pahiatua children" in late 1944.

"The New Zealand-Poland bilateral relationship is one of genuine warmth and friendship. It is important for us to continue to grow that relationship, particularly at the parliamentary level, where Poland has had extensive engagement with New Zealand in recent times," the Speaker said.

"We were grateful to Speaker Sikorski for his motion in the Polish House of Representatives that thanked New Zealand for its kindness and generosity, in opening our doors to those Polish refugee children in 1944," the Speaker added.

The delegation also visited the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

"As one survivor, Henry Appel, said 'there is only one thing worse than Auschwitz itself...and that is if the world forgets there was such a place.' As New Zealand is a close friend of the Polish people and a contributor to the Perpetual Fund of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, we must never forget the evil that took place," the Speaker said.

Finally, the delegation sought to confirm Polish support, at the political level, for New Zealand to enter into negotiations with the European Union (EU) for a free trade agreement.

"There are significant opportunities for increased cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the agricultural sector. During our discussions, the Deputy Prime Minister described Poland as a "staunch ally for New Zealand" in advocating for us to begin free trade negotiations with the EU, and we are extremely grateful to him, and Speakers Sikorski and Borusewicz, for their strong, continued support," the Speaker concluded.

ENDS

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more