The Government has welcomed a survey which shows an increasing number of people consider Asia is important to New Zealand's future.Trade Minister Tim Groser said Asia had never been a more important economic partner and much of New Zealand's current and f
The Government has welcomed a survey which shows an increasing number of people consider Asia is important to New Zealand's future.
Trade Minister Tim Groser said Asia had never been a more important economic partner and much of New Zealand's current and future prosperity depended on entrenching the partnership.
Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong said the survey results were "extremely pleasing" and showed 62 percent of respondents had regular contact with Asian people.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation ran the survey, which was released yesterday.
It showed 81 percent of respondents see the Asian region as important to New Zealand's future and of those 40 percent consider it to be very important.
That is an increase since 2008, when 75 percent viewed the region as important.
It also showed an increasing number of New Zealanders think free trade agreements will have a positive impact -- 78 percent compared with 74 percent in 2008.
Those who think imports from Asia will have a positive impact on New Zealand's future increased from 58 percent to 63 percent.
Foundation executive director Richard Grant said it was a sign of New Zealand's increasing interdependence with the region.
