Past projects

New Zealand's Role in APEC

Prepared by John Thomas McAndrew as part of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars to New Zealand 2003.

Grade: 12

Executive summary

New Zealand was one of the twelve founding member of APEC (Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in 1989. Today the 21-member economies of APEC have come to dominate New Zealand's trade with 70% of New Zealand's exports to APEC members and 73% of New Zealand's imports from APEC members.

This curriculum unit - NEW ZEALAND'S ROLE IN APEC - will examine how New Zealand functions with in the framework of APEC, which is a forum dedicated to the goal of free and open trade and investment in the Asian-Pacific region by the year 2020.

Since the end of World War II there has been a worldwide movement towards free trade. For New Zealand, a small and relatively isolated country, such forums like APEC permit equal footing with larger countries like the USA, China, Japan and Russia in developing a world trade policy. The security and prosperity of New Zealand and the world relies on a stable and peaceful international environment where the rule of law and international agreements are respected and where free trade may flourish.

Often, USA students only view such issues from the perspective of the United States and do not examine the concerns and issues of other countries. By studying New Zealand's role in APEC the student will gain a fuller appreciation of free trade issues and learn the method by which world trade policy is developed.

Table of contents

• Summary
• Grade level
• Essential questions
• Objectives
• Materials
• Strategies
• Lesson outline
• Student assessment
• Additional teacher internet resources
  

New Zealand's Role in APEC

mcandrewj.pdf (125kB)