RNZ Wellington February 5, 2020
Three-and-a-half years on, it is finally done: Brexit meant Brexit.
The UK is no longer a member of the European Union, at least from an administrative point of view and now begins the long and arduous process of negotiating trade deals with the rest of the world.
But where does that leave the UK’s relationship with New Zealand?
Champion of free trade
It has been 47 years since Britain elected to join what was then known as the EEC – the European Economic Community.
The effect on New Zealand was immediate: Britain was by far our biggest and most important trading partner at the time, and the decision forced New Zealand to diversify.
We became a champion of free trade and economic openness, and over the decades transitioned from being the UK’s bread-basket, to a global meat-and-dairy force.
But old acquaintances are not easy to forget: the relationship between the countries has remained strong.
As the United Kingdom enters its brave new world, the noises have been promising; British prime minister Boris Johnson says New Zealand will be “at or near the front of the queue” when it comes to negotiating a free trade agreement; we continue to enjoy youth mobility and ancestry visas.
No change to UK-NZ ties
Britain’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke does not expect any changes to that state of play.
“I think, if it is not broke, don’t fix it. And those systems currently work very well. I would not imagine those routes would change. The ‘OE’ is a really valued thing to both our countries, and there’s no reason why you would change it,” she said.
Some commentators think that Brexit could work out in New Zealand’s favour, speculating that the UK might turn to Commonwealth countries to fill the social and trade vacuum that may be left when it is exiting Europe.
But Ms Clarke says Commonwealth countries should not expect too much in the way of special treatment.
“The Commonwealth is important … but I caution against going back to the future, if that’s the expression. The UK of 2020 is very different to the world of 1973,” she said.
When asked whether Brexit points to a more open and globalised Britain, or a more insular incarnation, Ms Clarke is unequivocal. I can say really confidently there is not going to be any shutting of the doors … I only see upsides,” she said.
