Speeches

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I would like to extend a warm welcome to the survivors and family of the Shuhadah, along with representatives from our communities, academia, members of civil society, and those from the private sector, NGOs and public sector.

It is a pleasure to join you here in Rotorua. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you and hear from you about your experiences.

Tonight I want to talk about how New Zealand will use our chairing of APEC to help combat the challenges we face at home and abroad in responding to COVID-19.

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A mihi to all who have contributed to making today a success – starting with you!

Over the last three and half years we have been putting in place the foundations for a low-carbon Aotearoa that will be a catalyst for job creation, innovation, and prosperity for decades to come.

A few years ago in a speech in Auckland, I compared climate change to the nuclear free movement of roughly four decades ago.

I am very excited to have the opportunity to meet with you all and talk about the Ocean and Fisheries portfolio and vision – thank you for having me.

NB: Speech delivered on behalf of Minister David Parker by Under-Secretary Rino Tirikatene.

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.