Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

E nga mana - e nga reo - rau rangatira ma - tena koutou.

Nga hau e wha - nga iwi e tau nei - tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

In New Zealand's second official language, I too extend a welcome, saying:

To all our distinguished guests, to all who are to speak, to those who have come great distances to attend, to all who are assembled here, greetings, thrice greetings.

The Honourable Doug Kidd, Speaker of the New Zealand House of representatives, and President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary association, the Right Honourable Jenny Shipley, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Your Excellency Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to welcome you who are delegates from around the Commonwealth to New Zealand for this 44^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. I very much hope you enjoy your stay amongst us and that you are able to see a little of our country and sample even more of our hospitality while you are here.

The Commonwealth has come a long way since it began to evolve from its imperial origins. One might have expected that the foundations of an organisation built on the vestiges of an empire would be of diminishing strength. Instead, the Commonwealth is thriving and growing. I am particularly pleased to welcome delegates from Fiji, one of our South Pacific neighbours, on their return to participate in this Conference. I also extend a special welcome to the delegates from Mozambique, who are attending their very first Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

This Conference is an outstanding demonstration of the value of an international organisation that is diverse in so many ways, and yet whose members have both fundamental institutions and a language in common. Commonwealth nations have widely different ethnic, cultural, religious and social backgrounds and experiences, and yet their legislators can come together in the knowledge that the essential principles on which their parliamentary systems are based are long and solidly established, and are held in common with a great many other nations.

The overall theme of the Conference is "Globalization C Its impact on Commonwealth Governments and Parliaments". This is becoming, rapidly and increasingly, an important issue for all legislators.

Traditionally, the role of elected representatives has been one of promoting the interests of those they represent, the voters in what have usually been geographically-defined electorates. Commonwealth parliaments in particular have a strong tradition of constituency representation that is built on a close relationship with voters, and members are held accountable by their voters at regular elections.

But the rapid trend towards globalization raises some interesting questions and some immense challenges. For example, globalization is a phenomenon, and a process, that brings out issues about the very basis of the current world order. This is, I suppose, inevitable when geographic borders become less relevant than, traditionally, they have been. Yet as geographic borders become less significant, what then, makes or constitutes a nation, what becomes of our present national identities? If the entire world is indeed becoming, step by step, year by year, one country, how then are the voices of our very different citizens to be heard?; their individual interests recognized?; their personal preferences respected?

The great danger of globalization, surely, is that individuals everywhere could very easily come to feel too small in the face of the overwhelming size of the machinery of international government; too remote from the decision making that affects them. So what are the constitutional innovations to be, to ensure that globalization is a process aimed at increasing the good of all the world's peoples; that the process continues to recognise the rights and the human dignity of all of the world's citizens?

So much of what we now take for granted these days C in communications, for instance C is only possible through international co-operation. This means that national governments must sign up to international agreements to ensure their co-operation has a framework within which to function. And here lies the rub, as far as parliaments are concerned.

Increasingly, parliaments are asked to adopt legislation needed to bring national law into line with an international agreement that is already, essentially, a "done deal". Where does that leave you as legislators representing your constituents? Are your voters becoming more alienated from the legislative process? Whose interests are you representing C or perhaps, how are you representing your constituents' interests C when you pass this kind of legislation?

More importantly, what if a court takes into account your government's signature on an international agreement as an intention to legislate when deciding the outcome of a case? I understand this is not a hypothetical question because it has already happened. Where does this leave the role of parliament?

New Zealand, in common with some other parliaments, has recently put in place procedures to scrutinise treaties before our government formally adopts them. I would commend those procedures to you and I hope you take the opportunity to share with other delegates the way in which your own parliament is addressing this particular issue. It is of course in sharing experiences like these that the value of this Conference lies.

The Commonwealth has members from very large and very small countries alike. On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of meeting a number of delegates from the small nations. Some had travelled for many days, from places as remote as the Falkland Islands and St Helena. That parliamentarians of so many small countries on the other side of the world should travel here speaks volumes for the value of the Commonwealth bond, and for its expression in this Conference.

I was pleased to learn that this Conference has provided an opportunity for delegates from these small countries to get together in their own meeting. Looking at the topics on their agenda brings home the reality of some of the urgent problems faced by their countries. For instance, some face an uncertain future, with the possibility of sea levels rising to the extent that their entire land area might become submerged. This must be an issue of concern to the entire global community and if the ties of Commonwealth are to have any meaning, is one which all its members must surely address.

Small countries have also been looking at the relevance of bicameralism. It is 48 years since New Zealand abolished its upper house, and it would be fair to say that it is barely missed. And so to many of us, the concept of a small country needing a bicameral legislature seems rather surprising. Nevertheless, constitutional change is a very real issue in many Commonwealth countries. This might take the form of a debate about bicameralism or, as in New Zealand, about the form of the electoral system.

I am pleased to see that women parliamentarians also take the opportunity to meet during the Conference. While delegates are predominantly men, there are a number of women parliamentarians here. New Zealand now has 36 women in Parliament, some 30 per cent of the total membership. Parliamentary representation can come in many forms other than through geographical constituencies and this is something you will no doubt consider during your panel discussion on electoral systems. Ensuring appropriate gender and ethnic diversity in parliaments might mean considering the various forms of proportional representation.

There are many more significant items set down for discussion during the Conference. All of these are of vital importance in the face of globalization. I commend them to you and hope this opportunity to share views and experiences will provide valuable information, and contribute to your ability to be effective parliamentarians. I also hope you have time to build lasting friendships that will endure long after you have returned home.

I wish you well in all your deliberations.