Delegation of the Bundestag Germany-Australia-New Zealand friendship group visited New Zealand

A delegation of the Bundestag's  (German lower house of Parliament) Germany-Australia-New Zealand friendship group visited New Zealand from 20th to 23rd February 2012. The purpose of the visit was to deepen the parliamentary contacts between both countries and the friendship group's understanding of New Zealand's politics and policies. The delegation of eight German Members of Parliament, led by the friendship group's chairman Jürgen Herrmann (CDU/CSU), held a number of meetings in Wellington, Taupo and Auckland with representatives of the New Zealand Parliament, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Hon Christopher Finlayson, senior Government officials as well as business representatives and scientists. The topics discussed extended from environmental policies, climate protection and renewable energies to Maori affairs, foreign affairs and bilateral trade.