Julia Macdonald: Asia New Zealand Foundation Research and Engagement Director on more Kiwis seeing China as a threat

A new poll shows more Kiwis see China as a threat, but experts say a good economic relationship is vital. 

The Asia New Zealand Foundation surveyed 2,300 locals between November and December, and again in March.  

Results show the number of people concerned about China rose from 28% to 40% over four months. 

Research and Engagement Director Julia Macdonald says New Zealanders can appreciate the need for a good economic relationship. 

She told Ryan Bridge that China has been at the top of the list of most significant countries for New Zealand’s future for a number of years, and Kiwis understand the need to continue to engage China. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, Doctor Julia McDonald, Director of Research and Engagement.
This is Asian New Zealand Foundation. They've got a new
survey out this morning and it shows that our trust
in China is slipping. Forty percent of us see China
is a threat, and that is up from twenty eight
percent in November last year. We're not exactly loving America either,
by the way, I have hit print on something in

(00:22):
the studio and I don't know how to stop it,
and it's printing one word per page, So you're just
gonna have to put up with that for a little bit.
Sorry about that. Dr Julia McDonald is with the Asian
New Zealand Foundation and is with me this morning, Doctor Julia,
Good morning, Good morning. Sorry about the printing noise.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
No, no, I can't even hear it.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Oh good Okay, shouldn't have mentioned it. Forty percent of
US see China as a threat. That's up from twenty
eight percent November last year. Is this because of the
live firing drills? What do you put it down to?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, I think that's exactly right. The events in the
world around us always impact our survey results. And at
the time the Mini Poll, which was the updated survey.
In March, there was the Li Fi military drills in
China had also just signed the comprehensive Strategic partnership with
the Cook Islands. And I think these events, combined with
the events that were taking place in the US and Washington,

(01:14):
DC at the time, really impacted New Zealand's New Zealander's perceptions.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Yeah, our perception not just of China but also the States.
What do we think about them?

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah? No, I mean that was the time where we
just had President Trump meeting with Zelenski in the Oval Office.
We had tariffs being put on Canada, Mexico, a lot
of unpredictability in the world, and so you see that
reflected in these spikes and stepp perceptions and the drop
in prem perceptions especially these are each China and the
United States.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
Interesting though, that we see China not as a friend necessarily,
you know, more as we're more skeptical of them, of
course than we are of America. But we also understand
the importance of our economic relationship to the point where
we're basically willing to suck it up, an't we.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Well, I think we appreciate the importance of that economic relationship.
You're absolutely right. You know, a top of the list
of the most important countries for New Zealand's future is
China by quite a significant margin. It's been top for
many years now, and it is because we have such
an important relationship with China. We understand the need to
continue to engage China and it's just vital to our

(02:24):
national interest to do so.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
I really appreciate your time this morning, Julia, thanks for
coming on the program. That's doctor Julian McDonald from Asia
New Zealand Foundation.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
For more from Earli Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live
to news talks.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
It'd be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast
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