What’s in the diplomatic bag?

Gifts and who makes them are a crucial part of any summit. Because Apec was virtual this year, the gifts to senior officials extended a physical arm of friendship across the Pacific.

Apec’s silly shirts are the only gift that truly catches the world’s attention. However, there are other gifts presented to fellow members throughout an Apec summit. This year New Zealand hosted a virtual summit, and the gifts to ministers and senior officials became the extended physical arm of friendship across the Pacific. The 2021 gifts were sourced from a range of innovative businesses, including Honest Wolf of Huntersville.

Sophie Hurley was thrilled when she was asked to provide 21 woollen laptop sleeves. She said: ‘‘Honest Wolf luggage and accessories are part of the New Zealand wool business. We welcomed the opportunity to show our sustainable values and beautiful fibre to the leaders of the Pacific region.’’

Another innovative company selected by Apec 2021 was Yu Mei, a Wellington business specialising in luxury leather products. Its Frank cardholder is made from premium South Island deer nappa – the soft leather is a by-product of the New Zealand venison industry. It captures two diverse businesses – fashion and agriculture, which work and grow together creating environmentally sustainable products.

Working and growing together echo the 2021 Apec narrative, and the gifts play a large part in the summit’s ethos.

They show manaakitanga both by gifting and acknowledging the value of the relationship with meeting partners. It is also how ministers and senior officials connect with their contemporaries and break the ice. A physical symbol in a virtual water-cooler moment.

An example of how a gift is more than a gift can be illustrated by the informal senior officials meeting late last year.

Chaired by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy secretary (trade and economic) Vangelis Vitalis, the meeting set the scene for New Zealand’s host year. Vitalis was conscious of the diverse time zones between the 21 countries. Before the December 2020 meeting, he sent his senior official counterparts a small gift of New Zealand tea, coffee, a keep-cup and chocolates. During the meeting, the officials virtually shared a common experience.

Gifts were Apec 2021-branded and wrapped for formal presentation. Inside each parcel was an explanation card telling the story of the present and maybe a personalised note from the minister.

There are physical limitations to the gifts. They must be able to be transported by diplomatic bag to each country.

Apec 2021 deputy secretary Andrea Smith said the term diplomatic bag was a fancy word for a courier; the official designation gave her confidence that they would be received. The largest and most significant gift sent by diplomatic bag was the carved wooden waka presented by the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark to ministerial guests at the

June 2021 structural reform ministerial meeting.

The half-metre hull was crafted from New Zealand genesis kauri, and the

prow and stern have intricate kauri filigree with pa¯ ua inlays. Traditionally, building a waka involved entire Ma¯ ori communities working together toward a common goal. Apec 2021 reflects this approach to teamwork and collaboration.

Smith started planning for this year’s summit as an attendance forum; however, Covid saw the preparation and meetings switch to a virtual experience.

She said: ‘‘The switch to virtual means that the gifts our ministers give to their fellow ministers are more important than ever. We wanted to reflect the 2021 narrative Join, Work, Grow. Together. Ha¯ umi e¯ , hui e¯ , ta¯ iki e¯ – and always sought to showcase uniquely New Zealand products.’’

The products were potentially seen by a large Apec audience. There were almost 8000 registrations for the summit and the smallest ministers-level meeting had at least 21 attendees. Other meetings had attendances in the high 100s.

Although the opportunity for brand exposure was potentially large, there is no business flow-on unless the company promotes the selection themselves.

Smith said: ‘‘The purpose is not really to market an individual product, rather the purpose is to present New Zealand as a whole. It’s about an impression of New Zealand with the underlying values that matter to New Zealand.’’

Other gifts will be remembered long after Apec’s conclusion this month.

Closer to home and without air miles or border restrictions, 250 trees were gifted by New Zealand to the 2021 Apec leaders, ministers, officials and delegates. They will be planted in Auckland’s Shakespear Regional Park as part of the Trees That Count 2022 winter planting programme.

Species for the site include karaka, ko¯ whai, nı¯kau, puriri, taraire, tı¯toki and karamu¯ .

All were eco-sourced from a local nursery. Some pioneer species (such as ko¯ whai) are hardier and will help shelter other slow-growing, more specialist species (such as puriri).

Trees That Count manager Sarah Dillon said the slowest growing tree would be the nikau. It takes 15 years for them to form the beginnings of a trunk, so a two-metre specimen may be 20 or 30 years old. It can take them the best part of a century to reach their usual height of 10m.

New Zealand as host of the Apec 2021 wanted to create something that would grow and commemorate this extraordinary year and reflect the 2021 narrative. It is hoped some of the 21 leaders, 105 ministers, 22 senior officials and 7890 delegates will be able to visit these native trees in future.

LEADERS’ WEEK

The finale of the Apec meeting was leaders’ week. It was where the big recommendations were debated and was a time for the host leader and senior officials to exchange gifts with their counterparts.

The most significant gifts were crafted from our treasured pounamu.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented a koru-shaped pounamu to fellow Apec leaders, trade and export and foreign affairs ministers received a pounamu hei matau (fishing hook) and senior officials a pounamu toki (adze).

Formal acknowledgements and thanks for the gifts had been received by the Apec team. They said some of the nicest feedback were fellow senior officials wearing their toki during the final meeting.

‘‘The gifts have been an opportunity to connect and demonstrate the importance of our relationships and showcase our values, what’s important to us.’’

All this goodwill had been achieved at little expense. The cost of gifts to Apec leaders, ministers and officials range from $10 for a native tree to $500 for a leader’s gift.