Search

Governments of Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States call for responsible behaviour at sea during the 2013/14 Southern Ocean whaling season.

New Zealand will maintain its current level of support for international efforts in Afghanistan until December 2014, the Government says.

Twenty seven New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are currently deployed in behind-the-wire roles based in Kabul, including at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters, ISAF Special Operations Forces headquarters, and Afghan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA).

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says he is pleased the State Services Commission report on unauthorised disclosures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has finally been released.

“This process has been a distraction from the serious task of improving New Zealand’s external relationships and building a stronger foreign ministry,” Mr McCully says.
Mr McCully says he did not see the report or any part of it until yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is calling on all parties to respect the democratic process in Thailand after the government announced an early election.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, yesterday dissolved parliament and called for an election following a month of often violent protests.

Mr McCully welcomed the move to ease tensions.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is visiting French Polynesia this week.

“This visit is a chance to further strengthen New Zealand’s relationship with a Pacific neighbour and an important trading partner,” Mr McCully says.

“There are strong cultural and historical ties between our two countries as well as regular flows of visitors.”

During the visit Mr McCully will meet President Gaston Flosse and French High Commissioner Lionel Beffre.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman today praised the work of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Philippines as the C-130 Hercules stationed in Tacloban prepares to return to New Zealand.

“Typhoon Haiyan had a catastrophic impact on parts of the Philippines, leaving more than 5000 people dead and destroying more than one million homes,” Mr McCully says.

HMNZS OTAGO departs Dunedin today to monitor fishing activities in the Southern Ocean.

New Zealand-designated Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries will be on board to conduct compliance checks on the Southern Ocean’s legal fishing fleet.

“New Zealand takes its commitment to Southern Ocean conservation seriously.  It is vital that, as a CCAMLR member, we play our part in tackling illegal fishing activities,” Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will provide a further $2.975 million to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, taking New Zealand’s total contribution to more than $5m.

“More than 10 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan, with an estimated 4 million displaced and in need of emergency food and shelter. The death toll is reportedly close to 4000,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has announced New Zealand will provide a further $2 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.

"Typhoon Haiyan has caused significant damage and affected more than 4.4 million people across 36 provinces in the Philippines," Mr McCully says.

"Close to half a million people have had to leave their homes and sadly the death toll is rising.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand has made an initial contribution of $150,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross to support immediate relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan.

“Typhoon Haiyan was one of the largest storms on record and has had a major impact on the Philippines - a country that has recently been hit by successive natural disasters,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand will provide $850,000 in humanitarian assistance to the Philippines following the recent earthquake and flooding.

An estimated 370,000 people are living in temporary shelters after the 7.2 magnitude quake last month.

“The United Nations has launched an international appeal after an assessment revealed recovery needs are greater than first thought,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says while it is disappointing the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) did not agree to a Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (MPA), engagement on the proposal was constructive.

“The Ross Sea region MPA proposal continued to gather support at this year’s CCAMLR meeting in Hobart. All countries were at the table and negotiating,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will depart today on a two-and-a-half week trip through Europe and Asia.

Mr McCully’s programme includes discussions with his counterparts in Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and France, as well as meetings with key officials from the European Union.

Following the European leg of the trip, Mr McCully will attend the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, India, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, will meet in Auckland today for the sixth annual Indonesia-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Commission.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the completion of the first stage of the Renewable Energy Project in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

An opening ceremony attended by Afghan Economic Minister Mohammad Hadi Arghandewal and other Afghan dignitaries was held on 26 October.

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Murray McCully, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, HE Didier Burkhalter, visited Auckland, New Zealand, on 25 October 2013. This was Mr Burkhalter’s first visit to New Zealand, and the first by a Foreign Minister from Switzerland.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named diplomat Chris Seed as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Australia.

“Australia is our closest neighbour, our most important bilateral trading partner and the largest source of tourists to New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.

“The new High Commissioner will be responsible for ensuring this important relationship is further strengthened.”

Foreign Ministers of Australia, France, New Zealand, the United States and the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union

Australia, the European Union, France, New Zealand and the United States jointly call for the establishment this year of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean, in the Ross Sea Region and in East Antarctica.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of Superintendent Ross Ardern as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Niue.

“Niue has been self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974 and we have a strong shared history,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand and Niue are working together to develop the island’s tourism potential and to build economic sustainability. This year Niue is on track to see a 32 per cent increase in tourist numbers.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand is providing $6.34 million for a three-year community policing programme in Indonesia.

“The Eastern Indonesia Community Policing Programme will support the Indonesian National Police to improve community policing skills and relationships with the people of Papua, West Papua and Maluku,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Antarctica for the first time on Monday.

“As the minister responsible for New Zealand’s Antarctic affairs, I look forward to seeing our operations in Scott Base first hand,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand plays a leadership role on Antarctic issues, backstopped by a world-class science programme. Our position as an Antarctic gateway means New Zealand has direct environmental, economic, security and political interests associated with the continent.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named Mark Ramsden as New Zealand’s new Acting Head of Mission in Fiji.

“Fiji has recently taken some positive steps toward holding free and fair elections - an extensive voter registration process has taken place; four political parties have been registered; Fiji has responded positively to the NZ/EU needs assessment on requirements for holding elections; and the final constitution has been released,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will host his Australian counterpart, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, in Auckland tomorrow for their first six-monthly Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Ms Bishop’s visit is the first by a minister from the newly-elected Coalition government.

“This meeting is an excellent opportunity to build on the uniquely close relationship between our two countries,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced $2.6 million in additional funding for the Syrian crisis. 

New Zealand will provide $604,000 (US$500,000) to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and $2 million to humanitarian relief efforts in Syria and neighbouring countries.

“Together with the United Nations, the OPCW will lead the effort to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons stocks under the Geneva Framework agreed by the United States and Russia,” Mr McCully says.