The global Covid 19 pandemic, tension over China’s moves in Pacific region politics, climate change impacts and policies, free trade agreements and now, overwhelmingly, the war in Ukraine – the global context has changed hugely since EU Ambassador Nina Obermaier arrived in New Zealand three years ago.
She returns to Queenstown on November 21st, two years since she spoke with Catalyst about Europe’s Green Deal, to discuss these very real global threats. And how they have impacted on the “enduring partnership” between the EU and New Zealand.
On Ukraine, New Zealand provides “unprecedented sanctions, military, legal and financial support as well as coordination at the UN.”
The EU remains “totally committed to its goal to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050. And we have a shared responsibility with New Zealand to the planet, to meet our Paris targets, to adapt. We can learn from each other – climate action doesn’t only happen at UN level, but with urban design in our cities and regions too.”
The EU and New Zealand also have common goals in the Pacific, trade and sustainability, and the recently finalised EU–NZ Foreign Trade Agreement is the first of a new generation of “green and just” trade deals. Mrs Obermaier says she is looking forward to the discussion and the Catalyst Trust audience’s challenging questions.
Monday, November 21, 6 -7.30pm in The Rees Hotel Queenstown’s conference room. Registration required HERE as seats are limited. Please bring cash for your koha. This will be given to Way Home, an Odessa-based charity for Ukrainian refugees and disadvantaged families.
Bio: during her diplomatic career, Ms Obermaier has worked in fields from protection and crisis management to West Bank/Gaza, information society and E-government policy, Brexit negotiations and Ireland/Northern Ireland. Prior to joining the diplomatic service, she was a senior TV journalist. She will be happy to take questions on any of these subjects after her initial talk.