Start writing the country or territory name in the box. Typing more letters narrows the search. Click "go" or hit "Enter" to go to the information paper on the country or territory.
(We don't have information papers on all countries and territories.)
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.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
Contact: Stephen Wong, Disarmament Unit, International Security and Disarmament Division, ph +64 4 439 8398
The Dublin Diplomatic Conference is the final, and most important, meeting of the Oslo Process on cluster munitions. Previous meetings of the Oslo Process were held in Norway, Peru, Austria and, most recently, New Zealand. The aim of the Dublin Conference will be to conclude negotiations on a new convention that would prohibit cluster munitions that cause unacceptable humanitarian harm, and establish a framework for: co-operation and assistance to survivors, clearance of land contaminated by cluster munition remnants and the destruction of stockpiles. Officials from the New Zealand Permanent Mission to Geneva, MFAT (Wellington) and Ministry of Defence will attend.
Contact: Philip Houlding, APEC Unit, ASIA Division, +64 4 439 8887
At the second APEC Senior Officials' Meeting for 2008, the focus will be on measures to enhance regional trade. Officials will also continue to implement Leaders' goals expressed in their statement at the Sydney summit in 2007, including climate change, corporate social responsibility and counter-terrorism.
Contact: Paul Roberts, United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division +64 4 439 8462
The Steering Group of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime meets regularly to sustain momentum and focus on Bali Process activities and consider its future direction. It is comprised of representatives from Australia and Indonesia, who co-chair the meeting, and New Zealand, Thailand, the International Organisation for Migration and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The Bali Process has prompted numerous activities and measures to counter people smuggling and trafficking since the first Ministerial and Steering Group meetings in 2002.
This meeting marks the 5th anniversary of the announcement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The PSI advances international cooperation to stop shipments of weapons of mass destruction , delivery systems and related material flowing to state and non-state actors of proliferation concern. New Zealand is a member of the PSI's Operational Experts Group (OEG) and regularly attends OEG meetings. This High Level Planning meeting is open to all of the 86 states who have endorsed the PSI principles and a key focus of the meeting will be to review PSI results and successes over the last five years and to look at ways to continue to strengthen the PSI for the future.
Contact: Catherine McIntosh, Minister of Trade's Office, +64 4 817 9801
Minister of Trade Hon Phil Goff will represent New Zealand at the Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT). The APEC MRT brings together Trade and Economic Ministers from APEC membership representing over 50% of the world's trade. This meeting will seek to express the APEC membership's support for a strong outcome to the current "Doha Round" of negotiations in the World Trade Organisation, as well as continuing work on APEC's Regional Economic Integration agenda.
This annual meeting is convened and chaired by New Zealand. It provides an opportunity for Pacific Island Forum members to focus on developments, priorities and challenges that they face with respect to the international counter-terrorism agenda. A focus of this meeting will be to look at the progress that Forum members have made in implementing international counter-terrorism obligations and improving their counter-terrorism infrastructure and capability since the 2007 Working Group meeting. The meeting will also examine how these can be strengthened in the future.
Contact: James Andersen, Environment Division, +64 4 439 8442
New Zealand is hosting World Environment Day 2008 in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on June 5. The theme for World Environment Day 2008 is climate change with a focus on moving towards a low carbon economy and lifestyle. "Kick the Habit" (the 'carbon' habit) is the international slogan for the event. Wellington is the nominated host city; however, this will be a national event with a wide range of community based regional activities. More information on World Environment Day events in New Zealand and internationally can be found on the Ministry for the Environment website.
Contact: Jeff McAlister, International Security & Disarmament Division, +64 4 439-8640
This meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism will discuss progress in implementing the Initiative since it was launched in mid-2006. New Zealand became a member in November last year.
Contact: David Treacher, Latin America Unit, Americas Division, +64 4 439 8119
Mr Emilio González, Governor of the State of Jalisco (the third largest economy of the Mexican states and a significant agricultural producer), will visit New Zealand to advance projects of agricultural collaboration between New Zealand and Jalisco. The visit by Mr González provides the opportunity for New Zealand to demonstrate to Mexico more broadly the benefits that would flow from a closer economic and trade relationship.
Contact: Paul Roberts, United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division, +64 4 439 8462
The Standing Committee was set up to progress, in several meetings throughout the year, the work of the Executive Committee which meets annually (this year from 6-10 October) and oversees the activities of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Therefore it covers a range of issues relating the UN High Commissioner for Refugee’s (UNHCR’s) programme, including the budget for the following year and conclusions which guide the UNHCR’s activities in areas such as the international protection of refugees. New Zealand has an annual quota of 750 refugees and therefore takes a close interest in the UNHCR’s activities.
Contact: Paul Roberts, United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division, +64 4 439 8462
The ATC are a meeting of the UNHCR, governments, NGOs and the International Office of Migration (IOM) which aim to improve dialogue and cooperation on issues surrounding the resettlement of refugees. They offer a forum to review progress on resettlement issues and formulate joint strategies for the coming year in the lead up to the annual UNHCR Executive Committee (to be held this year from 6-10 October). New Zealand has an annual quota of 750 refugees and therefore takes a close interest in refugee resettlement issues.
Contact: Ara Tai Rakena, Americas Division, +64 4 439 8446
Uruguay will host, with New Zealand and Australian support, the first regional workshop of the Livestock Emissions Abatement Research Network (LEARN) for Latin America. LEARN was launched by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry last November in Christchurch as a means of pooling the efforts of experts from around the world working to minimise greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector. Many South American countries, like New Zealand, have large livestock sectors and important animal emissions issues.
See the News page and Media Contact information
