PM's Press Conference 19/2/18 – Storm Brewing
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opened this week's post-cabinet press conference by noting preparations for former
tropical cyclone Gita, expected to hit central New Zealand this week. She also discussed the government's plan for the
week, including the release of the National Impact Statement for the CPTPP (the former Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement) and work towards releasing the text, the upcoming anniversary of the Christchurch earthquakes, announcements
on the Provincial Growth Fund, and the Pacific mission planned for early March, which will concentrate on recovery from Gita's effect on the Pacific.
There were questions on recent reports on the New Zealand Defence Force – that they received, but did not investigate, reports of civilian casualties in the Afghanistan raids detailed in the book Hit and Run, and that NZDF staff have been secretly operating out of Qatar’s Al Udeid airbase.
Other topics included burglaries targeting an academic researching China's efforts to influence New Zealand, the
governments relationships and planned meetings with the Kingitanga movement, the royal commission into historical abuse
in state care, the National Party leadership race, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's ban on politicians
having affairs with staff.
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