4. Question No. 4—Foreign AffairsINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister of Foreign AffairsQuestion No. 4—Foreign Affairs4. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What decisions if any has she made from her review of New Zealand's position on deep-sea mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Foreign Affairs): This morning I announced Aotearoa New Zealand's call for a conditional moratorium on deep-sea mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction. This means that New Zealand will oppose all commercial seabed mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction until strong environmental rules can be agreed and backed up by robust science. The deep sea contains some of the least-understood ecosystems on the planet and our scientific knowledge of it remains extremely limited. Without adequate knowledge and environmental protections we do not believe it is safe for mining to take place.Ingrid Leary: Why has the Government taken this position? Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: We've recently reviewed the progress made to date through the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to develop a mining code for the deep sea. Given the lack of progress to date it's our view that the ISA process is unlikely to produce a mining code with adequate environmental safeguards to protect our oceans before its July 2023 deadline—that risks mining going ahead without any environmental protections. New Zealand would caution against such an approach. We've also listened to the concerns raised by a number of Pacific Island countries about the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and the livelihoods it supports. We share their ambition to protect our oceans and I'd like to acknowledge their leadership on this issue. New Zealand is therefore calling for a conditional moratorium to protect our shared ocean to care for the marine environment and its unique biodiversity.Ingrid Leary: What steps will New Zealand take at the upcoming ISA negotiations to promote a conditional moratorium?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: It's important for New Zealand that we continue to engage in the ISA negotiations—it's the best way to get international agreement for our position of a conditional moratorium. At the upcoming ISA negotiations we'll argue that a conditional moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters is necessary to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment until strong environmental rules can be agreed and backed up by robust science. New Zealand will work to proactively identify and promote steps that can be taken by the ISA to give effect to a conditional moratorium. We'll work with other like-minded countries to progress the position of a conditional moratorium on deep-sea mining. Hon Eugenie Sage: What contribution have civil society groups and Pacific parliamentarians made to the thinking which informed the Government's decision to support the moratorium in international waters? Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: I'd like to acknowledge the role that civil society groups in New Zealand have played and their continued advocacy. I have met with NGOs four times in the past 12 months to discuss perspectives and options on deep-sea mining including most recently this morning. I expect New Zealand officials will work constructively with NGOs at the upcoming ISA negotiation to help push forward the call for a conditional moratorium. I know that there are a range of views on deep-sea mining in the Pacific Islands and an ongoing dialogue in many countries. In our review we took stock of the views of Pacific Island countries and I've also taken the time to discuss the issue in a number of my recent bilateral meetings across the Pacific. We will continue to engage with Pacific Island countries across the full spectrum of views on seabed mining. NGOs have an important and constructive role to play across the Pacific and I also acknowledge the advocacy and expertise in this regard.Ingrid Leary: Does this moratorium apply to countries' exclusive economic zones (EEZs)?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: The International Seabed Authority deals with international waters beyond countries' territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Our call for a conditional moratorium therefore does not include areas within States' national jurisdictions such as our own EEZ. For waters within national jurisdiction we respect the mana of each country to manage its kaitiaki responsibilities to protect the ocean consistent with the international legal obligation they have to protect and preserve the marine environment and its ecosystems.