Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the Coalition Government’s approach to foreign affairs, saying New Zealand must engage with “more energy, more urgency and a sharper focus” amid what he described as a sharply deteriorating global environment.

In a keynote address to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs’ national conference in Wellington, Peters delivered a wide-ranging speech defending the Foreign Policy Reset and taking aim at critics who have accused the Government of shifting away from New Zealand’s traditional neutrality.

“Now, our critics complain that we are leading a radical repositioning of our foreign policy. But only in one very narrow and important respect are they right,” Peters said. “We have radically increased the tempo of our diplomacy, in recognition of our predecessors’ torpor, but also because of the sheer magnitude of the challenges we face.”

Since taking office in November 2023, Peters said the Coalition Government has visited 46 countries, held more than 400 political engagements, and met with over 100 global leaders.

Global instability and why diplomacy matters

Peters said the world was no longer the relatively open and stable place it was 25 years ago, describing today’s international environment as “under serious strain” and filled with “pervasive uncertainty.”

He referenced the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East as part of a broader shift toward instability and the erosion of international norms.

“There is no opting out from the geopolitical realities we face. So, this is a timely reminder of what is at stake, and why our foreign policy matters for all New Zealanders.”

Peters said foreign policy should not be seen as distant or abstract, highlighting how trade agreements, international rules, and diplomatic relationships impact everyday life — from biosecurity, travel and education to telecommunications and economic growth.

“This fundamental link between how we advance our interests abroad, and our security and prosperity at home, is why the Coalition Government prioritises foreign policy as a crucial instrument to achieve both.”

Focus on South and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific

He outlined progress in six areas of the Government’s foreign policy reset, including a major push into South and Southeast Asia, where 34 ministerial visits have occurred since February 2024. The Government recently upgraded its relationship with Vietnam and is pursuing similar upgrades with ASEAN and Singapore.

Peters also reaffirmed the importance of strong ties with China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, while acknowledging “frank and comprehensive discussions on areas of disagreement.”

In the Pacific, Peters said New Zealand remains committed to deep regional engagement through the Pacific Islands Forum and has reshaped its development strategy to focus on fewer but more impactful projects.

“We will always be members of the same Pacific family,” he said, adding that cross-party trips to Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia underscored bipartisan commitment to the region.

Blunt message to critics over AUKUS and diplomacy

Peters delivered one of the most direct sections of his speech when addressing critics of New Zealand’s engagement with AUKUS Pillar 2 — a proposed security technology partnership.

“We leave it to the small cabal of ill-informed critics of our foreign policy approach to shout impotently at clouds. They are good at that,” he said.

“Their arguments were ill-informed and rubbish then. They’re ill-informed and rubbish now.”

He insisted there is no update on New Zealand’s involvement in Pillar 2 and that the Government would only comment when there was something substantive to report.

Throughout the address, Peters emphasised a realist and prudent approach to foreign policy, warning that as a small, geographically isolated state, New Zealand must rely on diplomacy, not posturing.

“For a small state like New Zealand, the role of diplomacy is a crucial instrument of our foreign policy,” he said.

“We need more diplomacy, more engagement, more compromise. Meeting jaw-to-jaw is better than war.”

Final message: no one owes New Zealand a living

Peters ended with a warning and a call to action.

“We have many friends in the world, but no-one owes New Zealand a living. It is incumbent upon us to chart our course, assert our priorities, cultivate our partnerships, and pursue our interests with the vigour we have injected into our diplomatic efforts these past 18 months.”

He said the Foreign Policy Reset was essential to maintaining New Zealand’s security and prosperity and insisted the Government would continue to act with pace and clarity in response to global uncertainty.