近期，DB采访了新西兰驻广州总领事Rachel Maidment女士。采访中，Maidment女士分享了她首年的工作感受以及过去在联合国代表处工作经历，并探讨了新西兰和华南地区关系的发展重点。 DB recently spoke to Ms. Rachel Maidment, Consul-General for New Zealand in Guangzhou. Ms. Maidment talked about her first year on the job, her time at the United Nations, and the focu of the relationship between New Zealand and South China.

DB: 您自2016年9月份开始任职总领事，在这一年里，您对这份工作感受如何？You were appointed to your role as Consul-General in September 2016 – how did you find your first year on the job?
华南地区的发展日新月异，让我感觉这一年过的很快。这一年我们策办了很多活动，最大亮点便是在广州举办的三城经济联盟峰会。三城经济联盟峰会是指由广州，奥克兰和洛杉矶共同组成的三方姊妹城市联盟。该峰会获得新西兰政府的密切关注，派出市长菲尔高夫亲自带领奥克兰有史以来规模最大的海外商务代表团（70多家企业和100多名官员和代表）前往广州参加该峰会。
There is always a great deal happening in South China, so time has passed very rapidly. We had a lot of events throughout the year, with a highlight being the Tripartite Economic Summit hosted by Guangzhou. The Tripartite Alliance is a tri-lateral sister city alliance involving Guangzhou, Auckland and Los Angeles. The Summit garnered a lot of interest from New Zealand, with Mayor Phil Goff leading Auckland’s largest ever outbound business delegation (representing over seventy businesses and more than one hundred delegates and officials) to Guangzhou for the Summit.

DB: 在被任命为总领事之前，您在私营部门工作了六年，是什么让你决定回到公共部门工作？Before being appointed you worked in the private sector for six years – what made you decide to return to public sector work?
我喜欢在广州工作，而且总领事这个职位综合了私营部门和公共部门的专业知识。我们的工作更偏重商业方面——华南地区对新西兰的商业发展至关重要。所以无论是在广州工作或者生活，对我来说都相当有趣。
I was attracted to working in Guangzhou, as this position benefits from a combination of both private and public sector expertise. There is a strong business component of our work – with South China critical to a wide range of New Zealand business interests. It’s a fascinating region to live and work in.

DB: 您过去来过中国吗？您第一次来广州是什么时候？ What is your personal history with China – and when was the first time you visited Guangzhou?
2004年，正当新西兰与中国展开自由贸易谈判之时，我被暂时指派到北京工作。2005年，我第一次来广州旅游。直到我来广州接任总领事的时候，我发现在这短短几年间，这里发生了翻天覆地的变化。
I was first posted to Beijing on a temporary assignment in 2004 – right when New Zealand commenced its free trade negotiations with China. I first visited Guangzhou as a tourist in 2005, and when I assumed this role, was amazed at the changes that had taken place over that period.

DB: 您在新西兰常驻联合国代表处的工作经历对您接任总领事的职位有何辅助？How did your time at New Zealand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations prepare you for this role?
在2016年9月11日任职总领事前，我负责联合国大会方面的事务，期间听取了各国领导人就本国存在的问题进行发言与讨论，这些经历使我对全球各国所面临的问题有更深的了解和独特的看法。
I was covering the United Nations General Assembly, and arrived shortly after September 11. The leaders’ debate involved world leaders from each of the countries represented speaking on the key issues confronting their nations. This experience provided me with a good perspective on the range of issues facing nations across the globe.

DB: 您认为当前新西兰和华南地区的关系应该聚焦于什么方面？ What would you say is the current focus of New Zealand’s relationship with South China?
中国华南地区是新西兰的一个重要市场。目前广东与新西兰北岛和南岛之间有24个直飞航班，这是新西兰与中国华南地区联系日益紧密的重要因素。事实上，在新西兰留学的中国学生绝大多数来自广东，而近些年广东游客到新西兰旅游的人数也迅速增长，并且广东省也是新西兰食品和饮料产品的主要市场。 过去几年新西兰和华南地区不断在新的领域发展合作，包括科学与创新和创意产业。例如，第一部由新西兰与中国官方合拍的电视动画片即将发行，由新西兰的Pukeko Pictures与合作伙伴广东世纪华文联合制作。
South China is a key market for New Zealand, which is represented by the five different government agencies co-located at the Consulate. There are 24 direct flights currently between Guangdong and both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, which is an important factor in growing links between New Zealand and Southern China. Guangdong is our largest source province of Chinese students studying in New Zealand. It continues to be a fast growing source of tourists, and is a key market for New Zealand food and beverage products. Over the last few years, there have been some exciting new areas of cooperation coming to the fore, including science and innovation and creative industry partnerships. For example, the first ever official television co-production with China will soon be launched between New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures and its Guangzhou-based partner Huawen New Century.

DB: 2018年领事馆会举办哪些激动人心或有趣的活动？What are some exciting or interesting events the consulate has coming up in 2018?
我们将在接下来几个月举办一系列活动。比如新西兰篮球队Tall Blacks将会去东莞为篮球世界锦标赛提前热身。3月，著名厨师兼作家Robert Oliver将来到广州参加各种活动。6月，新西兰的贸易企业将在广东省举办”白苏维农葡萄酒月”, 这将给优秀的新西兰葡萄酒生产商带来更多商机。另外，我们将在11月举办”新西兰周”，这也是在中国展示新西兰美食和文化的绝佳机会。
Over the next few months we have a range of events on the horizon, including the Tall Blacks – New Zealand’s basketball team – coming to Dongguan to play China in a heat for the Basketball World Championship. In March acclaimed chef and writer Robert Oliver will visit Guangzhou and participate in a variety of events. In June, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise will run Sauvignon blanc month throughout the Province. This is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand wine producers, which are winning a number of awards and becoming increasingly prominent in this region. We will hold ‘Kiwi Week’ in November, which will provide us with a great opportunity to showcase New Zealand food and culture across China.