When these two writers decided to find out more about the visit to New Zealand by 20 high-powered West German industrialists. March 18-22, the obvious place to start was the Department of Trade and Industry, who are co-ordinating the German's trip. After the predictable switchboard shuffle while they tried to figure out exactly whom we should talk to, we were connected with the person who would be travelling with the German party and co-ordinating their arrangements.

Our first question was, roughly, "What sort of New Zealand resource inventory has been offered to foreign investors, specifically to the West Germans?" We encountered, not for the first time, stiff Resistance to the use of the verb "to offer." After a bit of careful adjusting of vocabulary, we were told that there was a briefing document given to the West Germans several months ago. This document was not a specific or detailed one, simply a rough outline of what New Zealand has to offer - fishing, tourism, minerals, forestry, energy, etc. "Nothing that isn't public information."

We asked if it would be possible to see a copy of this briefing document. "Well, departmental publications are not usually released to the public." "But if there's nothing in it that isn't public information, why can't a member of the public look at it?"

After quite a bit more discussion, and being put to 'Hold' twice, it was agreed that a copy could be picked up next day at lunch time. However, next day at 12.15 we were greeted with a rather embarassed Trades & Industry employee. "You may find this strange, but the document is being re-typed." We nodded. Yes, indeed, that did seem strange. The very simple explanation was that it had been typed double-spaced for the Germans and it was being re-typed in single-spacing. And then there had been a few little errors in the first retyping and it was having one more re-typing to get it just right.

Late that afternoon when the document was finally ready, it turned out to be, as predicted, an innocent and superficial list of New Zealand's attractions - fishing, tourism, etc. A thorough and compact one, certainly, but very vague.

It seems to these writers distinctly unlikely that a group as high-powered as this German one is should come to litt-ole New Zealand on the strength of that document.. For this is no delegation of civil servants or investment officers of German firms. To give you some idea of their stature: Heading the delegation is Hans Gunther Sohl. He is the honorary president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), and Chairman of the Board of an iron and steel firm which employs more people (130,000) than the total population of Dunedin. It has a consolidated turnover of 20 billion deutsch marks — approximately equal to New Zealand's entire gross national product. And he is just the head; there are 19 other members.