5 MAY 2009 - Labour's new Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Chris Carter says he's determined to promote New Zealand as having an independent voice on foreign affairs.

"Successive Labour Governments have given New Zealand a principled, proud an independent foreign policy. I intend to continue in that tradition."

"The National Government's response to the excessive response in Gaza by the Israeli Government earlier in the year was disappointing, as was withdrawal of the New Zealand candidature for the UN Human Rights Council despite considerable international support, and their moves to absorb the NZAID budget into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in face of strong condemnation was appalling," Mr Carter said.

"New Zealanders expect their Government to be a responsible voice in the world and I intend to hold the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a high standard of independence.

"I am proud of Labour's record on Foreign Affairs, New Zealand is respected for having strong voice on international matters."

In his role as Conservation Minister from 2002 to 2007 Chris Carter attended five international IWC meetings and was a vocal global champion of marine mammal conservation. In his conservation role Chris Carter also attended the COP (world's largest biodiversity conference) in Malaysia in 2002, Brazil in 2004 and at The Hague in 2006. Field visits to Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati were also undertaken as part of DOC participation in NZAid projects in the Pacific.

As Education Minister Chris Carter represented NZ at the APEC Education Ministers Conference in Lima, Peru in 2008 and led educational delegations to Thailand, Vietnam Cambodia and China in 2008.

"This is a role I look forward tackling," Chris Carter said.