Multilateral engagement remains central to advancing New Zealand’s interests and values in a complex, increasingly contested international environment. Intensifying geopolitical competition is placing the rules based international system under pressure, with major powers increasingly willing to challenge, reinterpret, or ignore long-standing international rules, norms, and institutions in pursuit of their interests.
New Zealand relies on the rules, norms, and institutions that underpin global cooperation for our security and prosperity. For small and medium states in particular a functional United Nations (UN) is essential for the pursuit of security and prosperity.
In 2025–26, the Ministry worked to:
- defend the global rules and norms that underpin our sovereignty, security and prosperity;
- shape UN reform in a way that reflects our priorities;
- protect New Zealand’s national interests through Antarctic and global governance frameworks;
- shape emerging rules and norms in line with New Zealand’s interests and values;
- ensure the multilateral system delivers value for the Pacific region; and
- uphold core human rights protections and mechanisms.
New Zealand actively defended the international rules-based system, advocating for compliance with the UN Charter and international law in all circumstances, including through advocacy in UN forums, regional organisations and public statements.
The UN system is facing a fiscal and liquidity crisis. Reform is essential to preserve its core functions and ensure it can deliver effectively and sustainably. New Zealand played a leading role in the UN80 reform initiative launched in 2025, including co-leading the mandate review process with Jamaica. In doing so, we helped build broad support for ambitious, practical reforms to better align Member State mandates with the UN’s capacity to deliver.
This contribution has advanced efforts to improve the UN’s effectiveness and efficiency and has enhanced New Zealand’s standing as a pragmatic, collaborative and solutions-oriented multilateral actor.
To ensure Pacific perspectives were reflected in UN reform discussions, New Zealand — in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Centre for International Cooperation — facilitated a survey on the UN’s engagement in the Pacific.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) contains the only legally binding commitment to nuclear disarmament by the five recognised nuclear weapon states and remains central to limiting the spread of nuclear weapons, including in the Indo-Pacific.
Though the 2026 NPT Review Conference was unable to achieve a substantive consensus result due to differences over Iran’s compliance with the NPT, we played an active role in the Review Conference, working to preserve the NPT regime, including leading a joint initiative to strengthen transparency and reporting by nuclear weapon states.
Climate change remained a central focus for New Zealand. We worked closely with Australia and Pacific partners in preparation for 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be held in November 2026. This has included a planned international preparatory meeting (Pre-COP31) and Leaders’ event in the Pacific that will help elevate regional priorities on the global stage.
Through sustained ministerial and senior official engagement, New Zealand helped shape and advance Pacific priorities particularly on renewable energy investment, the ocean-climate nexus and improved access to climate finance. This early coordination has strengthened regional alignment, ensured Pacific perspectives are reflected in preparations for COP31, and positioned the region to advance outcomes that support Pacific interests and climate resilience.
Reflecting New Zealand’s commitment to preserving and protecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, the Ministry continued to enhance New Zealand’s leadership role in the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). We established an annual strategic dialogue with Australia, reinforced international support for the ATS by negotiating a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with Republic of Korea incorporating Antarctica; and through Joint Statements with Germany and Uruguay.
New Zealand supported the peaceful, safe, and sustainable use of outer space through engagement in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and related bodies. This included contributing to work on space debris, sustainability, and international space, contributing to work on space debris mitigation, the long-term sustainability of space activities, and the application of international space law.
Engagement in the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) supported efforts to reduce risks of conflict and miscalculation, and to preserve space as a peaceful domain. This work also supports New Zealand’s space sector and protects critical space-based services that increasingly underpin everyday activities for New Zealanders.
Core human rights rules and norms are under pressure. New Zealand contributed to Universal Periodic Reviews of 18 countries, including four Pacific states, and supported accountability mechanisms. We continued to promote respect for human rights and call out abuses including in Afghanistan, Gaza, Iran, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan and Ukraine.
New Zealand will continue to contribute to UN reform and defend international rules and norms. Multilateral institutions and the rules they uphold remain critical to New Zealand’s interests. Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and the Gulf region made 2025–26 especially challenging. We expect 2026–27 will be similarly challenging. Success in some areas may be defined by our ability to defend the status quo, rather than being able to advance new initiatives.
Case study: Defending Antarctic rules: protecting New Zealand’s interests through diplomacy and international cooperation
In May 2026, the Ministry led New Zealand’s delegation to the 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the 28th meeting of its Committee for Environmental Protection in Hiroshima, Japan. The ATS remains the foundation of Antarctica’s governance.
The 1959 Antarctic Treaty together with the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection ensures Antarctica is used exclusively for peaceful purposes, supports international scientific cooperation, sets aside territorial disputes and bans mining indefinitely. It also prohibits military activity and establishes Antarctica as the world’s first nuclear weapon-free zone.
The ATS has been fundamental to protecting Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. However, growing geostrategic competition and increasing strategic interest in Antarctica are placing the system under sustained pressure, risking the erosion of longstanding norms that have underpinned Antarctica’s demilitarised and protected status.
New Zealand plays an active leadership role in defending the ATS. Recognising that its resilience depends on broad international support — particularly in an environment of sharper geopolitical competition — the Ministry engaged widely and actively in the margins of the ATCM, holding discussions with 17 countries on strengthening cooperation to uphold Antarctic rules and norms.
At the meeting, the Ministry worked closely with partners to maintain momentum on key priorities. Two new protected areas were adopted, alongside a New Zealand-led resolution to enhance information exchange and improve transparency. Parties also continued discussions on regulating Antarctic tourism, an area of increasing importance as visitor numbers grow. US-led Antarctic Treaty inspections of Australian, Chinese, Indian and Russian stations were positively received, reinforcing confidence in compliance mechanisms.
Despite these advances, consensus remained challenging on several issues. Applications from four countries (Canada, Belarus, Türkiye and Colombia) for full consultative status did not proceed. Proposals to designate the Emperor Penguin as a specially protected species were blocked by China and Russia. More broadly, obstruction by these countries continues to test the resilience of the system.
In this more contested environment, New Zealand’s proactive engagement is vital. The Ministry’s diplomatic efforts — both in formal negotiations and through targeted outreach — help sustain cooperation and reinforce our commitment to the Treaty’s principles.
New Zealand also contributes beyond formal meetings. Hosting the Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly in December 2025 demonstrated our commitment to raising awareness of Antarctica’s global value and strengthening political support for its protection.
Together, these efforts help ensure the ATS remains effective in addressing emerging challenges, from climate change to strategic competition, in safeguarding Antarctica for future generations and protecting New Zealand’s enduring interests there.