The outlook for New Zealand's relationships with Asia
Simon J Draper, Executive Director, Asia New Zealand Foundation
Thursday, 12 August 2021 8:00pm
Wairarapa
Rosewood, 417 Queen Street, Kuripuni, Masterton
Simon Draper is an experienced diplomat with extensive international background in negotiation and relationship management.
Simon joined the Asia New Zealand Foundation in September 2015 after working in various roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) since 1991. These roles included director at the Ministry’s United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division.
Since joining the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Simon has enhanced its international focus and created new opportunities for New Zealanders to experience Asia first-hand. He speaks working Korean, French and Italian.
How do New Zealanders view Asia at a time when Covid-19 has curtailed New Zealand’s international engagement?
Simon Draper will discuss the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples tracking survey. It found New Zealanders increasingly recognise the importance of building political, social, and economic ties with Asia.
“The research also finds New Zealanders consider Asia-related competencies, including an understanding of cultural protocols, to be important skills for New Zealand’s future workforce,” he says.
The findings also identify shifting attitudes towards China. In 2020, more New Zealanders saw China posing a threat rather than being friendly towards New Zealand. Similar trends which, have been identified in surveys overseas, including in Australia.
“But it’s interesting to see New Zealanders also named China, alongside countries such as Australia, the US, India and Japan, as a key relationship that New Zealand should put extra effort into building,” says Simon Draper. “They recognised the need to keep engaging.”
Mr Draper will share his perspectives about the need for New Zealand to keep Asia firmly on the radar. And to keep connecting with the region at a time of continued global uncertainty.
Simon Draper is an experienced diplomat with extensive international background in negotiation and relationship management.
Simon joined the Asia New Zealand Foundation in September 2015 after working in various roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) since 1991. These roles included director at the Ministry’s United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division.
Since joining the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Simon has enhanced its international focus and created new opportunities for New Zealanders to experience Asia first-hand. He speaks working Korean, French and Italian.
How do New Zealanders view Asia at a time when Covid-19 has curtailed New Zealand’s international engagement?
Simon Draper will discuss the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples tracking survey. It found New Zealanders increasingly recognise the importance of building political, social, and economic ties with Asia.
“The research also finds New Zealanders consider Asia-related competencies, including an understanding of cultural protocols, to be important skills for New Zealand’s future workforce,” he says.
The findings also identify shifting attitudes towards China. In 2020, more New Zealanders saw China posing a threat rather than being friendly towards New Zealand. Similar trends which, have been identified in surveys overseas, including in Australia.
“But it’s interesting to see New Zealanders also named China, alongside countries such as Australia, the US, India and Japan, as a key relationship that New Zealand should put extra effort into building,” says Simon Draper. “They recognised the need to keep engaging.”
Mr Draper will share his perspectives about the need for New Zealand to keep Asia firmly on the radar. And to keep connecting with the region at a time of continued global uncertainty.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.