46753 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

46753 (2024). Hon Rachel Brooking to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What actions, if any, has the Minister taken to progress multilateral international commitments aimed at reducing the risk of conflict in space?

Rt Hon Winston Peters: New Zealand is committed to advancing international agreement on rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour in space and supporting a peaceful, sustainable, and secure space environment. New Zealand led a joint statement in the United Nations General Assembly in May 2024 calling for all UN Member States to carry out space activities in full compliance with international law. This statement, delivered on behalf of 36 Member States, affirmed the obligations of all States Parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit any nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. New Zealand participates in the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and in multilateral negotiations on preventing an arms race in outer space. New Zealand also co-sponsored a United Nations resolution on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours in October 2023.