Ministry Statements & Speeches:
New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Te Aka Aorere
United Nations General Assembly Plenary Meeting
New Zealand Statement delivered by Shannon Tau, Counsellor
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
President,
This resolution does not fully reflect New Zealand’s position on the legal issues addressed by the International Court of Justice. Nor does it reflect all of the views expressed by the Court.
However, New Zealand commends Vanuatu for its work on this resolution, and its strong advocacy on behalf of Pacific Island countries. In keeping with Pacific advocacy on climate change and resilience issues, New Zealand is voting today in support of this resolution. We have voted against amendments that would have had the effect of upsetting the outcome of the negotiations that have been held over the last three months.
New Zealand also observes that to be effective against the impacts of climate change, all major emitters – including Russia, China, India, the European Union and the United States – must take effective action.
New Zealand is pleased that the resolution recalls the Court’s findings on the preservation of maritime zones and continuity of statehood in the face of climate-change-related sea-level rise, which endorse key elements of the Pacific Islands Forum position.
New Zealand is a strong supporter of a rules-based international system, and of the International Court of Justice as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. New Zealand considers it important and appropriate that the General Assembly take formal note of the Court’s Advisory Opinion.