New Zealand
New Zealand was at the forefront of the diplomatic process towards a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons, including during the negotiation of the TPNW in 2017. New Zealand is a state party to the TPNW from 22 January 2021 and is in compliance with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the Treaty.
| TPNW status |
|---|
| Signed (20 Sep 2017) and ratified (31 Jul 2018) |
| Compliance with prohibitions in TPNW Article 1(1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art 1(1)(a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| Vote on negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (83%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Last vote on UNGA resolution | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (military/civilian) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Rarotonga) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Member of the CD | Yes |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
Latest developments
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, issued a video message on social media in connection with the 75th commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, urging all states to join the TPNW. In the General Debate of the 2020 UN General Assembly, New Zealand said: 'We know that no state or organisation can prepare for the unimaginable suffering in the wake of a nuclear holocaust. If we cannot prepare, we must prevent. That is why New Zealand has signed up to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We urge all others to join this landmark Treaty, and we welcome its imminent entry-into-force. The Treaty’s global prohibition on nuclear weapons is a necessary step on the way towards their total elimination.' See: bit.ly/3qxF8BK, bit.ly/3m46OeI.
Recommendations
- New Zealand should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- New Zealand should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.