31 March 2016

Compiled data shows Govt has voted against anti-nuke stance

Data compiled for the Green Party shows that the National Government voted against, or abstained, on nuclear disarmament resolutions in the General Assembly 25 percent of the time.

John Key is currently in the US where he was invited to the Nuclear Security Summit. He was initially invited in 2010 because of New Zealand’s strong anti-nuclear stance, since then he has undermined that.

“John Key is supposed to be in the US promoting our anti-nuclear position but in reality his Government has not voted in line with that position each time it's had the chance to,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“We have serious concerns that John Key is undermining New Zealand’s strong anti-nuclear stance during his trip to the US to attend the nuclear summit.

“For example in 2014, the National Government voted against a resolution that called on States “to take the measures necessary to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament”. This is fundamental to our policy, there was no reason to vote against it.

“John Key needs to do more to promote New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance than use the Nuclear Security Summit as a photo-op.

“It's crucial that New Zealand has an independent foreign policy. We need a government prepared to stand up for what is right,” said Mrs Turei.

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