Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr. President, Excellencies, Colleagues,
New Zealand is pleased to participate in ECOSOC’s Humanitarian Affairs Segment.
We particularly thank Costa Rica for their leadership of the Call to Action. New Zealand is pleased to join the Call to Action, which is a timely and necessary reaffirmation of the humanitarian principles and international
humanitarian law.
We extend our unwavering gratitude to humanitarians globally for their tireless work, and express our grave concern at the mounting numbers of humanitarian personnel who have been killed and injured.
New Zealand strongly supports Australia’s efforts to recommit the international community to the protection of humanitarian personnel through its forthcoming declaration.
We are deeply troubled to see a lack of respect for international humanitarian law in numerous contexts. Civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarians must be protected.
In line with Security Council resolution 2286, hospitals, medical facilities and medical workers must also be protected. Safe, rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarians and humanitarian aid must be provided. Bureaucratic and administrative impediments to the provision of assistance are unacceptable.
Mr President, the humanitarian system is at a worrying inflection point, with levels of need continuing to rise and humanitarian funding set to drop significantly in 2025. Without decisive action, the humanitarian system risks being overwhelmed—more stretched than ever before, and unable to meet the growing demands of those in crisis.
The rapidly changing humanitarian landscape means that business as usual approaches to humanitarian action need to be fundamentally reconsidered. New Zealand commends Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and OCHA for taking the initiative and launching the Humanitarian Reset.
New Zealand was pleased to join other donors recently in a letter expressing support for the Reset. We welcome efforts to urgently reimagine and reform parts of the humanitarian system. And we encourage efforts to ensure that local voices, including those of women-led organisations, are heard in reform discussions.
As the Reset progresses amidst significant pressures, New Zealand reaffirms our support for principled and inclusive humanitarian action. We reiterate the continued importance of reliable and safe access to sexual and reproductive health services in emergencies.
In New Zealand’s own region, the Pacific, we see first-hand how climate change is exacerbating humanitarian needs. Until the drivers of climate change are addressed, intensified natural hazards will cause increased destruction, and loss of life and livelihoods.
Mr President, New Zealand is proud to support the international humanitarian system, and to stand up for action that saves lives all over the world.
Thank you.