PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 1/ 1967
VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
I shall be in New Zealand at the invit ation of the New Zealand
Prime Minister, Mr. Keith Holyoake, from Thursday, February 2 until
Wednesday, February 8.
The friendship between New Zealand and Australia is close and
warm, It has been strengthened by our common background of British
democracy and parliamentary institutions. We have been comrades in the
cause of freedom and resistance to aggression in two WTorld Wars and, in more
recent years, in Korea, Malaysia and Viet Nam. We have many mutual
interests in trade, Commonwealth co-operation and in the security and
economic progress of South-East Asia and the Pacific. The word ANZAC
forged at Gallipoli has a special emotional and historic significance for
Australia and New Zealand. There is a personal friendship between Mr.
Holyoake and myself which appropriately reflects the relationship between our
two countries. This will be my second visit to New Zealand. The first was
made in 1950 when I led the Australian Delegation to the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Conference. I look forward to my discussions with Mr. Holyoake
and members of his Cabinet, also many other New Zealanders with whom I
shall be coming in contact. I welcome the opportunity to see something of
the considerable developments which are taking place in New Zealand in many
directions. CANBER RA,
January, 1967.
BACKGROUND: The last visit by an Australian Prime Minister to New Zealand
was in 1954 by Sir Robert Menzies. Mr. Holyoake was in Australia last June
for meetings of the SEATO Council.
Mr. Holt, while in New Zealand for the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association Conference of 1950, toured the North Is land
extensively but has never been previously to the South Island. His itinerary,
on this occasion, will take him to Wellington only in the North Island but to
several points of interest in the South Island.
Mr. Holt will depart from Sydney on Thursday, February 2,
and will arrive at Wellington Airport towards the end of the afternoon.
Friday will be spent in discussions with New Zealand Ministers, Saturday and
Sunday in attending various functions in Wiellington and in travelling to
Christchurch. During the remainder of the visit, the Prime Minister will be
visiting places in the South Island, and will leave Christchurch for Sydney
during the afternoon of Wednesday, Fetruary 8.
Mr. Holt will be accompanied by Mrs. Holt. With the Prime
Minister will travel also his Private Secretary, his Press Secretary and a
member of the Prime Minister's Department.