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Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
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New Zealand's credentials and reputation in arms control and disarmament draw on a long history of commitment to promoting the peaceful and just resolution of international conflicts, and of strong support for the multilateral treaty system.
The International Security and Disarmament Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the development of New Zealand policy in relation to international negotiations on arms control and disarmament issues. The division is also responsible for implementation of that policy, through New Zealand posts (Geneva, Vienna, The Hague, New York, and Paris) and domestically. This includes ensuring our obligations under international treaties and arms control regimes are met.
Nuclear disarmament is at the centre of New Zealand’s disarmament diplomacy. New Zealand works towards this goal through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review process, support for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and participation in the New Agenda Coalition.
The threat of the use of biological and chemical weapons, particularly by non-state actors, is of increasing concern.
Landmines, other conventional weapons such as cluster munitions, and small arms and light weapons cost hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year.
New Zealand is a member of four voluntary export control regimes and MFAT has responsibility for issuing export permits for items on New Zealand's strategic goods list.
MFAT acts as secretariat to the independent advisory committee to the government on disarmament and arms control issues.
Progress on key priorities through major multilateral fora, including the Conference on Disarmament and the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
