Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has today welcomed the appointment of a New Zealander to an important role at the United Nations.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has confirmed the appointment of New Zealander Jan Beagle to the position of Under-Secretary-General for Management for a term of four years.

“This is a significant role with the United Nations given the new Secretary-General‘s reform priorities. It is one of a handful of very senior roles within the UN Secretariat,” Mr Brownlee says.

“As the Secretary-General noted in making the appointment, Ms Beagle has had a distinguished career in the United Nations serving in a number of high-level roles in New York and Geneva, most recently as the Deputy Executive Director of UN AIDS.

“This appointment is a tribute to Ms Beagle’s abilities and her excellent performance in the United Nations.

“I’d like to congratulate Ms Beagle on her new role and we look forward to working with her,” Mr Brownlee says.

New Zealand will provide $750,000 to support landmine clearance in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced.

“New Zealand has a long history of involvement in Afghanistan, including support for renewable energy and agriculture projects, as well as the deployment of the New Zealand Defence Force to Bamyan,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The funding, announced today, will see about $750,000 given to the United Nations Mine Action Service.

“The programme helps to support Afghanistan’s innocent citizens who strive towards peaceful lives.

“Long-term sustainable development in Afghanistan will depend on stabilising the security situation. This is why it’s important to contribute to landmine clearance and mine risk education. 

“Through our NZDF and our development assistance, New Zealand has made a major investment in the future of Afghanistan.

“We will continue to be part of international efforts to stabilise the country and support its people as the security situation improves,” Mr Brownlee says.

Notes to editors:

New Zealand has a long history of support to demining internationally, through our Aid Programme, the United Nations Mine Action Service and the New Zealand Defence Force. 

Through the Aid Programme, we are currently spending around $16.5 million supporting demining activities in Laos, Colombia and the occupied Palestinian Territories.

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has today handed over four amphibious boats to the Fiji National Disaster Management Office at a ceremony in Suva.

“New Zealand and Fiji have agreed to trial the Sealegs boats in emergency response situations and natural disasters,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Amphibious boats do not require infrastructure to launch, which means the emergency responders will be able to get the vessels in the water more quickly and operate more effectively in flooded urban environments.

“Fiji’s emergency responders will use the vessels to reach stranded people, as well as to get support and supplies to people who have been cut off by flooding or other natural disasters.

“The $1.2 million, two-year trial will see four vessels provided to the Fiji authorities along with other emergency equipment, and a training and maintenance programme.

“The Sealegs boats will complement Fiji’s excellent emergency response systems and boost their disaster response capacity.

“This trial is a partnership between the governments of New Zealand and Fiji, to test innovative technology that will ultimately help save lives and deliver humanitarian assistance when disaster strikes,” Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Brownlee is currently in Suva for his first official visit to Fiji as Foreign Affairs Minister.

Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the announcement that United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit New Zealand next week.

Secretary Tillerson will meet with Prime Minister Bill English and Minister Brownlee in Wellington on June 6.

“New Zealand and the United States enjoy a long-standing friendship,” Mr Brownlee says.

“We share a deep interest in maintaining peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific region and we have worked closely together to counter terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States is our third-largest individual trading partner.

“We welcome Secretary Tillerson’s visit as a chance to strengthen the close relationship between New Zealand and the United States, to discuss some of the world’s most pressing issues, and to further promote our economic ties,” Mr Brownlee says.

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee will travel to Fiji today to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

“I last visited Fiji in December 2014 as Defence Minister and am looking forward to discussing a range of matters with Prime Minister Bainimarama,” Mr Brownlee says.

“These will include regional issues, our Defence and disaster risk reduction ties, and New Zealand’s aid and development programme.

“The Royal New Zealand Navy has recently deployed inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Hawea to Fiji for six months to help bolster the nation’s maritime security and to protect its fisheries.

"Fiji is an island nation, like New Zealand, and therefore protecting our maritime borders is extremely important.

“New Zealand’s response to Cyclone Winston in 2016 demonstrated the deep friendship between the people of our two countries. Responding to natural disasters is an area where I believe we could more closely collaborate.

“Fiji is New Zealand’s largest trading partner in the Pacific and a growing number of New Zealand businesses are active there.

“While in Suva I will also meet with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Dame Meg Taylor,” Mr Brownlee says.

New Zealand will provide $200,000 to support emergency relief efforts in Sri Lanka following floods and landslides caused by torrential rains, Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced. 

“Floods and landslides in Sri Lanka have affected almost half a million people, with a death toll of more than 150 and many people missing,” Mr Brownlee says.

“New Zealand is committed to supporting the people of Sri Lanka at this difficult time.

“Our contribution to the relief effort will support the Sri Lankan Red Cross to provide immediate support to those in need.  

“We will continue to monitor the situation in Sri Lanka. The weather forecast is for further heavy monsoon rains in the coming days,” Mr Brownlee says.  

New funding of $9.6 million in Budget 2017 will see New Zealand’s presence in Antarctica continue while cementing the Government’s commitment to the continent, Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

$2.1 million operating funding over the next two years and $4 million capital will be allocated to the future redevelopment of Scott Base.

This will allow for the development of a building design and implementation plan to redevelop Scott Base when the present facility reaches the end of its life – expected to be within 10 years.  

“Scott Base provides a permanent presence in Antarctica that underpins New Zealand’s strategic interests,” Mr Brownlee says.

“A revamped Scott Base will allow us to continue providing safe and effective logistics and also support the high-quality Antarctic science relevant to New Zealand’s policy and interests.

“By maintaining a credible presence in Antarctica, our ability to safeguard the environment will continue, as will our influence in the Antarctic Treaty System.”

$3.5 million of operating funding over the next four years will be provided towards office accommodation at the National Antarctic Programmes in Christchurch.

“The Christchurch-based programmes are part of our contribution to a joint logistics pool for Antarctic research,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The United States, Italian and Korean Antarctic Programme activities greatly benefit Christchurch and New Zealand.”

“Their continued economic and scientific commitments to the city are significant and it is important that Christchurch remains an attractive and viable centre for their operations.”

Earthquake Commission (EQC) levies will increase from 1 November to help rebuild its Natural Disaster Fund (NDF), which has been depleted following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes.

“EQC has provided huge support to New Zealanders following the Christchurch, Seddon, and Kaikōura earthquakes, but in the process it has exhausted its reserves,” Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.

“EQC has a Government guarantee and $4.7 billion in re-insurance cover, so homeowners will be covered if there is another natural disaster, but we need to start the process of replenishing the fund so it is available to contribute to future natural disasters.”

Insured homeowners currently pay 15c per $100 of insurance cover, up to a maximum of $207 a year, as part of their insurance premiums. From 1 November homeowners will pay 20c per $100 of insurance cover, with an annual cap of $276.

“This is an increase of up to $69 per homeowner per year, including GST,” Mr Joyce says.

Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission Gerry Brownlee says the levy rise is needed to ensure EQC is on a sustainable footing into the future.

“It would currently take more than three decades before the NDF reaches EQC’s reinsurance excess of $1.75 billion – and that’s in the absence of any significant natural disaster like the Kaikōura earthquake. The new levy rates mean we will be well on the way to restoring the Fund to this level within 10 years,” Mr Brownlee says.

The Government’s review of the EQC Act more generally continues to progress.

“I expect that Cabinet will make decisions on the EQC Act Review in the coming months, however this is not expected to have any further impact on levy rates,” Mr Brownlee says.

Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has condemned yesterday’s test launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea.   

“UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korean ballistic missiles. North Korea’s disregard for its obligations under these resolutions continues to be of deep concern,” Mr Brownlee says.

“New Zealand strongly urges North Korea to start taking responsibility and contribute to the stability to the region.

“This is the eighth test conducted by North Korea this year, some with multiple missiles.

“We will continue to support sanctions and international efforts to address this situation.

“The extent of sanctions will be dependent on North Korea’s action,” Mr Brownlee says.

Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett and Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee have today announced that New Zealand will provide $1.3 million to support Fiji’s presidency of the United Nations Climate Change Conference later this year.

“At last year’s conference in Marrakech, Fiji was selected to take up the role of president of this significant event,” Mrs Bennett says.

“This is a major undertaking for any country and these important talks will bring together climate experts officials and leaders from around the world.

“In addition to our financial support, New Zealand climate change ambassador Jo Tyndall will be available as an on-call adviser.”

Mr Brownlee says the conference will be important for maintaining momentum in negotiating the rules which will bring the Paris Agreement on climate change into effect.

“This is also the first time a Pacific Island nation has taken leadership of this conference.

“Given the significant impact of climate change on the Pacific, we are committed to supporting Fiji’s presidency and helping them to ensure the talks are successful,” Mr Brownlee says.

The conference begins on 6 November 2017 in Bonn, Germany.