By NELDA MASCHMEYER
The ambassador of New Zealand is coming Wednesday at noon to speak on U.S.-New Zealand relations in 238 HRCB as part of the David M. Kennedy Center Lecture Series.
Ambassador James Bolger, formerly Prime Minister of New Zealand for seven years, will visit BYU, the University of Utah and meet with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and with state officials during his visit to Utah.
Erlend Peterson, Dean of Admissions and coordinator of ambassadorial visits, said under the leadership of Bolger, the New Zealand economy was transformed from having the lowest growth rate among the 29 OECD nations, to today having one of the strongest.
He said Bolger pursued an outward-looking foreign policy to strengthen New Zealand’s relationships with other countries, especially in the Asian/Pacific region.
Before entering national politics, Bolger was a beef and sheep farmer. In 1972 he was elected Member of Parliament for King Country. Bolger also served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary, New Zealand’s first Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture.
As Minister of Labor and Minister of Immigration in 1978, Bolger introduced many legislative changes, including laws permitting weekend shopping and voluntary unionism.
In December of 1997, he was appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand — New Zealand’s highest honor. Membership is limited to 20 people living at any time and recognizes outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand.
