Hon Phil Twyford

It is fantastic to be able to be here with you in person tonight to mark the one year anniversary of PACER Plus entering into force.

(Check against delivery)

Kia ora tatou

I have been asked to talk to the work being done to support economic resilience in the Indo-Pacific, for Aotearoa New Zealand and our partners in the region.

Good evening and thanks so much for the introduction.

76 years ago today, during World War II, the unthinkable happened. As the people of Hiroshima were starting their day, an atomic bomb was detonated above their heads.

Some of you may have been surprised when you received an invitation from the Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, and I would forgive you if you were.

[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY]

Launch of Parliamentary Handbook on Disarmament for Security & Sustainable Development - virtual event 

I want to begin by acknowledging the work of the ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council, as well as the particular role you have played Kenneth, during your time as ANZBC Chair.

Thank you for this opportunity to be with you virtually today. The India New Zealand Business Council has put together an excellent event.

I’d like to start with a thank you to the AI Forum Executive for getting this event off the ground and for all their work and support to date.

Thank you for joining me here this evening for what is part of an ongoing conversation about New Zealand’s work on disarmament, and how that intersects with New Zealand’s broader approach to peace and security, and to our foreign policy.

Thank you Council President Mr Chandar Sen for the introduction, and thank you, members of the executive committee, for the opportunity to be here with you today.

It is such a pleasure to be here in Dunedin, and to have this chance to talk with you about key issues within my disarmament and arms control portfolio.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

I am so pleased to be able to join you for part of this workshop, which I’m confident will help us along the path to developing New Zealand’s national policy on the issue of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems.

I’m thrilled to be standing here as a dedicated Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, which I hope reinforces for you all – and for our friends and partners offshore – how serious this Government is about pursuing New Zealand’s objectives in this portfolio.

It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to celebrate such an historic occasion - the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.