1 July 2004 Media Statement
Visiting Forces Act comes into effect
Law relating to forces visiting New Zealand for training and exercise purposes has been updated for the first time since
World War II. Parliament passed the Visiting Forces Act yesterday, bringing New Zealand into line with contemporary
international law and practice.
Defence Minister Mark Burton says that the new Act rectifies deficiencies in what is widely acknowledged as a complex
area of international relations.
“Previous Visiting Forces legislation was over six decades old, and was out of step with modern practice. The Visiting
Forces Act updates and amends the law relating to armed forces visiting New Zealand to reflect current international
arrangements.
“Providing a clearer and more comprehensive law for accepting visiting armed forces into New Zealand enhances our
international defence and security relationships.
“By reducing the prospect of misunderstandings surrounding the status, rights and obligations of forces visiting New
Zealand, this Act minimises the possibility of future difficulties in our relationships with states who send forces
here.
“It will also permit New Zealand to ratify its Status of Forces Agreement with Australia—the next step in our closer
defence relations.”
The new law comes into effect today, and Mark Burton says it will allow for much greater reciprocity in defence
relations.
“New Zealand expects its deployed forces to be afforded the privileges and immunities from local jurisdiction that
visiting forces customarily have under international law. Under this new law, which allows for similar privileges and
immunities for forces visiting New Zealand, negotiating such agreements will be far simpler.
Mark Burton stressed that the new law was the product of broad consultation.
“I would like to thank the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and the New
Zealand Defence Force for the excellent work they have done on the development of this Act. These officials have done an
excellent job bringing outdated legislation in line with modern international law.”
ENDS