Stop the rot! - Editorial

Jane Kelsey and other TPP scaremongers have been conspicuous by their absence since the deal was announced.

Sure the outcome was disappointing for those who hoped to see the elimination of all protectionist barriers for our dairy sector, but this was never going to happen. Despite only minuscule progress for our dairy exports it was progress and the TPP has shown some really good wins for NZ, especially in our primary sector.

As NZ special agriculture envoy Mike Petersen told Rural News, the TPP has delivered an "outstanding" result for the NZ primary sector.

"We have basically gained free trade access for the majority of our primary sector products – with the exception of dairy and some beef – to 11 new markets with a population of 800 million or 40% of the world's trade," he says.

So now we need to see some political leadership, especially by the Labour Party, on supporting the deal. Forget the anti-globalists in the Greens or the isolationists in NZ First who think NZ is still frozen in 1840; both these parties are small-fry political pixies and neither will ever be a lead party in government.

However, Labour as the major opposition party is supposed to be the government in waiting and it is time it started acting like it.

While the Government currently has the numbers in Parliament to pass this deal, it would be far better for NZ Inc if there was a true bipartisan show of support in the House for the TPP. It would demonstrate – to the country and our trading partners – the commitment of New Zealand's leaders to trade liberalisation that transcends partisan politics

While TPP-enabling legislation will be just as legally effective whether passed by a narrow or a wide margin, it would be far better for the country with strong bipartisan support. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark's strong view on the deal has already shown that petty party politics has no place in such matters.

Labour has a proud history of free trade going back to Mike Moore in his days as trade minister. Jim Sutton and Phil Goff were both leaders in international trade liberalisation when they held the portfolios in Labour-led governments.

Labour needs to "get some guts" and back the TPP deal for the good of New Zealand.