environment for exporters. Trade disruption and
disruption and protectionism pose further risks to our success and
that is why this Government
will stay at the absolute
forefront in advocating for free and fair trade.
My
My question is to the
My question is to
Tu ai a ia i runga i te mana o nga whakataunga katoa o
tana
Yes
Yes supplementary question Metiria Turei Does he stand by
his Government's refusal to commit to an
inquiry into the allegations
contained in the hit and
run book, including the allegations of the
killing of children in Afghanistan
by New Zealand forces, and
if so,
haven't seen sufficient evidence substantiated from a book published
less than 24 hours ago
in circumstances that you'd
have to describe as at least partially
politically motivated to warrant
an politically motivated to warrant an
inquiry. However, I
have sought briefings from officials and
will seek more such briefings.
Supplementary question Metiria
Turei Even if the PM does think that this
book is politically motivated
does he not agree that the allegations
are serious enough to warrant a full
investigation to maintain the
reputation and integrity of the
Mr
Mr Speaker, I think while the allegations are certainly
of a serious nature, that simply
means that the requirement for
that the requirement for
substantiation is all the
greater and I note that even the
authors are somewhat conditional about the way
in which they make
a whole range of allegations.
in which they make a whole range of allegations. Supplementary
allegations. Supplementary yes Metiria Turei. Is the PM concerned
about the potential that the
conduct of the New Zealand Defence Force
in Afghanistan could be investigated by
the International Criminal
Afghanistan could be investigated by
Speaker, no, and I must say that we are proud of our Defence Forces
and their service overseas,
which includes in Afghanistan the loss of
10 lives in the interest
of New Zealand playing its part
in securing international order. There is
no suggestion either in the
international order. There is no
certainly no suggestions in the briefings I have seen
or the inquiries that have
already been covered that New Zealand
defence personnel have
personnel have done anything other than observe the rules of engagement
in a professional manner.
than observe the rules of engagement in a professional manner. Is the PM
not taking seriously the possibility
that the International Criminal
Court could investigate the New
Zealand Defence Force
for the alleged killing of civilians,
including children, in Afghanistan
and a possible Government
including children, in Afghanistan
that is technically possible or not. Our concern is in the fist
instance to ensure that
New Zealand defence personnel have acted and
behaved to the standards that
we would expect of them. I can only repeat that
the book very recently published doesn't
yet appear to have
substantiated enough of the
yet appear to have substantiated
allegations to warrant an inquiry. However, we will continue to
get However, we will continue to get
briefings. . Supplementary
question Metiria Turei. Does the PM
not agree that the allegations in the book
are
the killing of civilians, including the
the killing of civilians, including children, by the New Zealand Defence
Force, the SAS, must
be taken seriously enough to warrant
an inquiry into those allegations if
Speaker, we are simply not going to be rushed into such a
serious undertaking and I think the member
should just review the standards
she is applying. We would certainly
not conduct an inquiry simply on the
basis of disproving bstantiated
basis of disproving unsubstantiated allegations.
My
My question is to the Prime
independent inquiry into the allegations made
independent inquiry into the
Not
Not at
Not at this stage. The book came out less than 4