President Halonen met the Prime Minister of New Zealand

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen met the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on Tuesday, 20 February 2007. In the talks held at the Parliament House, the President and the Prime Minister discussed a range of issues, including climate change, civilian crisis management and the development in Asia and the South Pacific region. On combating climate change, President Halonen and Prime Minister Clark hoped for more research to be done on renewable energy sources. In her speech at the State Luncheon, President Halonen highlighted the similarities between Finland and New Zealand. "New Zealand was the first country in the world to give the right to women to vote. Finland was the second country in the world to do the same", President Halonen said. "Democracy, respect for human rights – including the rights of minorities – and the rule of law form the self-evident foundation of both countries."

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and the New Zeeland Prime Minister Helen Clark. Copyright © The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

President Halonen also met on Tuesday with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Opposition Leader John Key and Governor General Anand Satyanand.

On Sunday, 18 February, the first day of the state visit, President Halonen met the Prime Minister Helen Clark on a lunch cruise in Auckland. On Monday, President Halonen attended innovation roundtable seminar and visited Maori Village Orakei Maraei. The state visit ended on Wednesday 21 February.

President Halonen is greeted by the Ngati Whatua elder, Mr. Grant Hawke, in Orakei Marae in Auckland. © The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

President Halonen and Dr Arajärvi travelled to New Zealand from Australia, where they made a state visit from 13 to 17 February. Accompanying President Halonen was a delegation of Finnish innovation experts led by Professor Raimo Väyrynen, President of the Academy of Finland.

Round table discussions on innovation were held in both countries, the aim was to pass on experiences of each country’s science and technology policy and to forge contacts with a view to future cooperation.