"A high-powered group of former political leaders have publicly urged Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to restate New Zealand's commitment to the China relationship. Former Labour Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former National Party Leader Dr Don Brash and former National Party Agriculture Minister and Speaker of the House Sir David Carter have published an open letter to Luxon airing their concerns about his Government's defence relationship with the United States and what it could mean for the China relationship".

"'It would not be surprising if China were to come to the conclusion that the special relationship which New Zealand has had with it since becoming the first developed country to have a free trade agreement with it in 2008 is no longer so valued by New Zealand'... Of particular concern to the group was the 'considerable disadvantage' they saw in greater involvement in defence arrangements with the United States, including the so-called 'second pillar' of the AUKUS agreement".

Stay Out Of AUKUS

"The coalition Government has continued the previous Labour government's policy of exploring the potential for New Zealand to be involved in the contentious Australian pact with United Kingdom and the United States, which will have it acquire nuclear-powered submarines. New Zealand officials describe their consultations with AUKUS officials on the pact's 'second pillar' -- which involved cutting-edge defence technology -- as occurring on a 'no-commitments basis', but a heavily redacted November 2024 Cabinet paper to Ministers did indicate 'areas of possible collaboration' are coming into view".

"'This engagement has focused on understanding AUKUS members' processes and exploring technological areas New Zealand would be best equipped to target for initial participation in pillar II', the paper reads. The AUKUS agreement was a defence arrangement 'explicitly aimed at China', the letter writers said. Beyond this, the group was critical of statements made by Luxon and Peters which 'we consider to be positioning New Zealand alongside the United States as an adversary of China'".

"'For example, since coming to office, your Government has signed New Zealand up to a number of strategic groupings led by the United States. You have authorised a naval vessel to sail through the Taiwan Strait, despite knowing that would antagonise China. You have strengthened defence ties with the Philippines at a time when it is in a low-level military stand-off with China in the South China Sea'" (Press, 6/6/25, Thomas Manch).

Watchdog - 169 August 2025