United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling on Parliament's Speaker, Jonathan Hunt, to act on last week's historic Parliamentary vote in favour of the Republic of China on Taiwan.

He says he is writing formally to Mr Hunt to request him to convey the text of the resolution congratulating President Chen Shui-bian on his election and calling for closer ties between New Zealand and Taiwan to the Parliament and Government of Taiwan.

"The resolution was carried unanimously by Parliament and, as Parliament's man, it is Mr Speaker's role to convey that decision to the relevant parties, in this case the Parliament and Government of Taiwan."

"I appreciate that Parliament's vote has embarrassed the New Zealand Government in terms of its relationship with the People's Republic of China, but that is not a consideration here."

"Mr Speaker is the servant of Parliament - not the Government - and history provides many examples of Speakers standing up for Parliament against the Crown and the Executive."

"We are fortunate that Mr Hunt is a Speaker with a deep sense of Parliamentary tradition, and consequently, I am sure he will act with alacrity and without fear or favour to convey the text of this historic resolution to both the Government and Parliament of the Republic of China on Taiwan, in accordance with the custom of his office," Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

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