Australian PM visits New Zealand
{{date|February 15, 2007}}

[[Image:John Howard May 2006.jpg|thumb|right|John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia.]]
[[Image:HelenClark.jpeg|thumb|left|Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand.]]
The Australian Prime Minister (PM), [[w:John Howard|John Howard]] has arrived in [[w:New Zealand|New Zealand]] today for various duties.

While in New Zealand Mr Howard will talk to the New Zealand PM, [[w:Helen Clark|Helen Clark]]; participate in a joint New Zealand and Australian [[w:CEO|CEO]] conference at [[w:Victoria University of Wellington|Wellington's Victoria University]]; open the new high commission for Australia in [[w:Thorndon|Thorndon]]; lay a wreath at the [[w:New Zealand Tomb of the Unknown Warrior|Tomb of the Unknown Warrior]]; and talk to the leader of New Zealand's opposition party, [[w:New Zealand National Party|National]], [[w:John Key|John Key]].

Ms Clark has said that their talks will cover various topics, including trade, global warming, problems in the [[w:Solomon Islands|Solomon Islands]], [[w:Fiji|Fiji]], and the settling of [[w:Tonga|Tonga]], and about New Zealand's apples continuing to be banned in Australia. They will also talk about other regional, and international topics. Keith Locke, Green party member, is urging that Ms Clark talks to Mr Howard about sensitive issues, including urging Australia to withdraw from [[w:Iraq|Iraq]], release [[w:David Hicks|David Hicks]] from [[w:Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]], and Australia not ratifying the [[w:Kyoto Protocol|Kyoto Protocol]]. Mr Howard said, "We remain quite concerned about Fiji and will compare notes and talk about that as well as other bilateral issues."

Mr Howard said that the relationship between himself and Ms Clark are good. "We put aside any ideological differences we might have and we focus very much on getting good results." He also said that the relationship between Australia and New Zealand "...has got a lot of history, it has got a lot of common culture, it has got a lot of common sporting endeavour. But, like all close relationships, if you take them for granted they tend to fray at the edges over time."

Mr Howard will return to Australia on Friday.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Pacific-problems-on-Howards-NZ-agenda/2007/02/15/1171405341539.html
|title=Pacific problems on Howard's NZ agenda
|author=Australian Association Press
|pub=Sydney Morning Herald
|date=February 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/990770
|title=PM pushed to raise Iraq with Howard
|author=Newstalk ZB
|pub=One News
|date=February 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/InternationalNews/tabid/187/articleID/21249/Default.aspx|title=Australian PM arrives in NZ today|author=|pub=3 News|date=February 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200702151004/australian_prime_minister_due_for_annual_talks|title=AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER DUE FOR ANNUAL TALKS|author=|pub=Radio New Zealand|date=February 15, 2007}}

{{Archived}}
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[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[category:David Hicks]]
[[category:John Howard]]
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia.
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
The Australian Prime Minister (PM), John Howard has arrived in New Zealand today for various duties.

While in New Zealand Mr Howard will talk to the New Zealand PM, Helen Clark; participate in a joint New Zealand and Australian CEO conference at Wellington's Victoria University; open the new high commission for Australia in Thorndon; lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior; and talk to the leader of New Zealand's opposition party, National, John Key.

Ms Clark has said that their talks will cover various topics, including trade, global warming, problems in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and the settling of Tonga, and about New Zealand's apples continuing to be banned in Australia. They will also talk about other regional, and international topics. Keith Locke, Green party member, is urging that Ms Clark talks to Mr Howard about sensitive issues, including urging Australia to withdraw from Iraq, release David Hicks from Guantanamo Bay, and Australia not ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Mr Howard said, "We remain quite concerned about Fiji and will compare notes and talk about that as well as other bilateral issues."

Mr Howard said that the relationship between himself and Ms Clark are good. "We put aside any ideological differences we might have and we focus very much on getting good results." He also said that the relationship between Australia and New Zealand "...has got a lot of history, it has got a lot of common culture, it has got a lot of common sporting endeavour. But, like all close relationships, if you take them for granted they tend to fray at the edges over time."

Mr Howard will return to Australia on Friday.
New Zealand Oceania Australia Politics and conflicts