New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says we have a ‘friendly and positive relationship’ with Brunei, a nation which is phasing in laws that will lead to gay men and lesbians being stoned to death. Just how close are we? John Key and the Sultan of Brunei in Wellington last year MFAT lists New Zealand’s relationship with Brunei as “friendly and positive”, saying we enjoy cooperation in many areas such as education, trade and defence. New Zealand is signed up to a free trade agreement with Brunei, Chile and Singapore – the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (better known as P4). MFAT says this is “a key aspect of New Zealand’s relations with Brunei”. Both nations are involved in negotiations about expanding this agreement into the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with would include: Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. Brunei is New Zealand’s 126th largest trading partner. New Zealand's exports to Brunei are worth around NZ$5.8 million a year (2012 figure) and are chiefly dairy, apples and frozen fish. Brunei’s imports to New Zealand are worth NZ$1.1 billion and are mostly made up of crude oil. Brunei nationals visiting New Zealand for periods of up to three months do not require a visa. In 1999 Brunei extended its visa waiver for New Zealand citizens visiting Brunei from 14 days to 30 days. There are about 100 Brunei students in New Zealand universities, currently. Otago University has a Memorandum of Understanding with Brunei under which it takes a small number of medical and dental students. Lincoln University also has links with Brunei. Brunei regularly recruits New Zealand teachers. MFAT says New Zealand has a “small, but significant”, defence relationship with Brunei. It says military exercises, training assistance and annual discussions under the Mutual Assistance Programme have helped to develop a relationship of substance and value for both countries. Then Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand and his wife visited Brunei in 2010 in an official capacity, while the Sultan of Brunei was here last year. New laws in Brunei, which went into effect on 1 May, will be phased in over time. When the third and final phase is implemented, gay men and lesbians, as well as those convicted of adultery, will be stoned to death for their "crimes". Jacqui Stanford - 16th June 2014