I think he's very afraid that our civilisation might be next in the firing line if he did. The current govt are like kicked puppies cowering in the corner when it comes to the US and their proxy.
#NZPol Ahhhh. Rubio just blurted out what Winston would rather NZ didn't hear. He's there to sell mined minerals.
New Zealand holds significant, untapped reserves of 37 critical and rare earth minerals (REE), primarily concentrated on the South Island’s West Coast and offshore mineral sands. 1/2
#NZPol 2/2 Key resources include titanium (ilmenite), vanadium, garnet, antimony, and nickel-cobalt, crucial for high-tech, aerospace, and renewable energy.
If he's there to barter the environment for oil, and win West Coast votes in the process, that ship has just literally started sailing again.