Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader
17 May 2012

MFAT Cuts Stupid In The Extreme – Peters

New Zealand First says the Government’s heavy-handed closure of New Zealand embassies and cuts to staffing levels makes us an international laughing stock.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rt Hon Winston Peters says National should be pushing New Zealand trade and diplomatic ties for all they’re worth in the struggling global economy.

“National is retrenching at a time when they should be pushing our export interests all around the world.

“They are doing this when other countries are upping their interest in offshore investment.”

Mr Peters, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, was the architect behind the opening of our embassy in Sweden, which is among those being closed by National.

“This vindictive National government is closing down embassies in a move which will save us about $1 million.

“It is short-sighted and stupid in the extreme. It will cost us dearly.

“There will soon be only a 0800 number left as a contact in these countries, and that will probably be outsourced to the Philippines or India,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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