Motions — United Nations Security Council—Election to Non-permanent SeatText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMotions — United Nations Security Council—Election to Non-permanent Seat[Sitting date: 21 October 2014. Volume:701;Page:9. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MotionsUnited Nations Security Council—Election to Non-permanent SeatRt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):I seek leave to move a motion without notice in relation to New Zealand’s election to the United Nations Security Council.Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I move That this House recognise New Zealand’s election to the United Nations Security Council for the term of 2015-16. Obtaining 145 votes against two highly respected and much larger nations is a major achievement. The overwhelming support in the vote on 16 October in New York is a testament to New Zealand’s reputation as an independent principal foreign policy contributor and an acknowledgment of our record at the United Nations over the past 69 years. It is also a strong affirmation of the important role that a small State like New Zealand can play on the Security Council.We ran a very strong campaign over close to a decade. I would like to acknowledge the Rt Hon Helen Clark who launched our Security Council campaign and the commitment of successive Governments to it. There are several other people I wish to acknowledge as well. They include the Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully for his leadership and dedication to the campaign; His Excellency Hon Jim McLay and his team for their work at the coalface of the campaign in New York; the special envoys Rt Hon Sir Don McKinnon the Rt Hon Jim Bolger Colin Keating Amanda Ellis Sarah Dennis and Lucy Duncan; and the Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson David Shearer for his assistance with the campaign. We were able to run a bipartisan campaign and this was well received by the international community and I think it counted significantly in our success. I would also like to commend the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade including our missions around the world which worked tirelessly on the campaign.We thank all those countries that supported us. We had strong friends and advocates in every region in the world—in Africa the Caribbean Latin America the Middle East and Eastern and Western Europe. I would also like to pay particular tribute to our friends in the Pacific and Asia who stood solidly behind our campaign.Throughout this campaign New Zealand has gained a new level of profile on the international stage and strengthened our reputation as active global citizens. We look forward to serving alongside Spain on the council and I would like to acknowledge Turkey’s commitment to its campaign and the United Nations system. We also made new connections with a diverse range of countries and Security Council membership will allow us to increase our international engagement even further.This is a once-in-20-years opportunity for New Zealand to sit at the world’s top table. We look forward to again making a meaningful contribution to the important work of the Security Council. I remember when I went to speak to the United Nations and the permanent representatives I had an opportunity to go and speak to the African congress and the African Union members. At the time the indication from the chair was that there would be no questions; I would simply make an intervention and leave. After I made my intervention the permanent representative from Rwanda put up her hand and asked the chair whether she could make a statement. The chair obliged and the permanent member got to her feet and said to the members of the African Union that they should look around that they should be all voting for New Zealand that it was the representation of New Zealand that saved literally millions of people from Rwanda and that this was a small country that showed significant influence on the other members of the council. She put it to the members of the African Union that if it was not for New Zealand’s contribution the situation would have been very different.A small country can make a big difference on the world stage. I think the bipartisanship shown over the last 10 years and the efforts of our ministry and a great many other people have contributed to New Zealand once again being given an opportunity to represent those who are in the greatest of need. Over the next few years it will be a challenging time for the world. New Zealand’s contribution will be valued.DAVID SHEARER (Labour—Mt Albert):The Labour Party supports the Government’s motion to recognise our election on to the United Nations Security Council. More than any other place it is where New Zealand can contribute to peace and security in the world and we are living in very turbulent times.The emphatic victory of 145 votes out of 193 against pretty formidable competition in the form of Turkey and Spain and without spending that sort of money is a testament to a number of things. First of all it is a testament to our standing in the world. We are perceived as fair-minded a country with a principled foreign policy and an independent country one that is a firm supporter of the UN principles.The quality of our campaign was very important. As the Prime Minister said it started 10 years ago under a Labour Government. I acknowledge too the team that existed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade those various envoys who travelled the world and the formidable team in New York headed by Jim McLay. Having seen Jim’s work on the ground I believe he has the respect the standing and the moral compass to be an excellent representative on the council in the years ahead. I want also to acknowledge the work of this Government and the Prime Minister but particularly the Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully for spearheading that effort as well. As the Prime Minister said it very much is and was a bipartisan effort.Lastly our message to those countries that we met—it resonated—was we would on the council stand up for small States and give them a voice that they often did not have to listen and to judge each issue on its merits when it comes to us making a decision and that we would be persuaded by the case in front of us not just by other pressures. We have an obligation now to make sure we see that through. That might mean taking a stance against some of our bigger trading partners or perhaps our traditional allies as well. That is the duty we are given and that is the undertaking we now have to see through.The Prime Minister talked about Rwanda. I remember our last stint on the United National Security Council. I was a much younger and more “haired” aid worker in Rwanda back in those days and I remember Colin Keating giving one of his speeches in the Security Council where he talked about people around the Security Council having blood on their hands. I was living and working amongst many of those Rwandans and as a person doing that I felt very proud to be a Kiwi who was recognised by those people around me as standing up for them.That is the legacy we have for which we are remembered and on which our reputation is also based and it flows through to so many other aspects of how New Zealand is perceived. The challenge before us in the next 2 years is to make a real contribution to making this world a more peaceful and safer place and in doing so further enhance our standing as a country.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green):The Green Party also supports the Government motion around New Zealand attaining the United Nations Security Council seat. It is a major achievement for a small State. Congratulations to all of those who were involved in achieving it. On behalf of the Greens I would also like to thank all of those countries that voted for New Zealand to hold that seat.The question now is what we do with the position that we now have and what we should do looking forward. It seems to us in the Greens that we need to show leadership as a country on some of the big global issues and in particular on climate change. When we ran our campaign we said we would be a voice for the small States on the Security Council and at the United Nations. There are many many small States across the Pacific whose very existence is under threat as a result of sea-level rise as a result of climate change. If we are to be true to our campaign slogan—that we would be a voice on the United Nations Security Council for those small States—then we need to show leadership on climate change.Climate change should be recognised by the United Nations Security Council as an international security threat and New Zealand should support that position. The Pentagon just on Monday released a report asserting decisively that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security with increased risk from terrorism infectious disease global poverty and food shortages. This should be recognised by the United Nations Security Council. Moreover if New Zealand is to provide leadership on climate change as it should and if it is to stand up for small island States then we must also take action to cut our own greenhouse gas emissions. New Zealand plans to increase our net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in the next decade. That is a grossly irresponsible position. Other States and small States which we say we are representing on the Security Council will not thank us for it and it will undermine our credibility on the UN Security Council if we take that position. We should provide leadership on climate change on the UN Security Council.Secondly and this is to reflect partly also David Shearer’s contribution we need to have an independent foreign policy. The Prime Minister’s more recent statement that we should get into a new war simply because our traditional allies are doing so is the antithesis of an independent foreign policy. If we are to have an independent voice on the UN Security Council we need to be independently minded and have an independent foreign policy. That is what we promised to do in our campaign to be on the Security Council and it is very important that we do that.We asked to be on the world stage and now we are there. We were not thrust on to it. We sought it which is fair enough. Our small country will be judged on how we exercise our responsibilities to the rest of the world both those alive today and those who are yet to come and how we exercise our responsibilities to the environment of planet Earth. I look forward to New Zealand exercising those responsibilities in a way that makes us all proud.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First):New Zealand First wishes to acknowledge the very significant achievement of New Zealand winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2015 and 2016. This is a result we welcome as it enhances New Zealand’s international standing and reputation. Winning a Security Council seat was the result of a sustained and effective campaign involving the current and former Governments. New Zealand First recognises and salutes all who have contributed to this result. Ministers and many of our foreign affairs staff have played their part in securing this notable victory. So to all who played a part for New Zealand New Zealand First says: “Well done. You have served the country well.” New Zealand faced some serious challenges in its bid as you know from countries with much greater resources at their disposal. New Zealand had to be smarter not a bigger spender than its competition.Having said all that there is a widespread and deep concern at how effective the United Nations actually is in confronting the issues facing the international community. The task is now for New Zealand to use its opportunity of a Security Council seat to bring about some real reform. As a small country with very modest defence capability New Zealand has much to gain from a stable and secure international order. It is very much in our national interests that the UN is an effective organisation. For 2 years New Zealand will be sitting on the Security Council at the summit of world affairs. This is a great opportunity to make real improvements in the UN—an institution that serves all peoples around the world. New Zealand has done exceptionally well to gain a seat on the Security Council and if it is not too grandiose to say we must now use this special opportunity to make the world a better place.Hon TE URUROA FLAVELL (Co-Leader—Māori Party):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker kia ora tātou katoa e Te Whare. Ko tāku ko te whaiwhai haere i ngā kōrero a Te Pirimia ki te mihi ki ngā ringa raupā i kawe nei i tēnei o ngā kaupapa ki mua i te aroaro o te United Nations ka mutu tēnei o ngā kaupapa ki tōna taumata. Ka mihi rā ki ngā tāngata pēnei i a Murray McCully ki a Jim McClay ki a David Shearer ka nui te mihi ki a koe ka mutu ki ngā Pirimia o ngā tau kua hipa ki a Helen Clark ki a Jim Bolger ko rātou katoa ngā ringaringa rāweke i te pepa kia eke tēnei o ngā kaupapa ki tōna taumata otirā ngā mea i āwhina nei i ngā kaikōrero ki te kawe i ēnei moemoā o Aotearoa ā ki tāwāhi.[Thank you Mr Speaker and greetings to us all in the House. My address follows the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister. I congratulate the team that worked to put forward this of the bids before the United Nations which ultimately was a successful one. I acknowledge those involved particularly Murray McCully Jim McClay and David Shearer. A big thank you to you and furthermore to former Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Jim Bolger all of them—all the people who played a part in preparing the document that enabled this of the bids to be successful those indeed who assisted the presenters to convey these dreams of New Zealand abroad.]I also just acknowledge the other gentlemen and ladies who have been mentioned earlier and the contribution that they made in terms of presenting New Zealand’s case to the United Nations.When the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the University of Auckland just recently I am told that he talked about the powers of connectivity in creating enduring peace. In his speech he referred to the lack of mutual understanding and respect for the traditions beliefs and faiths of others and the initiative of creating the Alliance of Civilizations to promote genuine understanding. New Zealand as others have said can be proud today of our success in winning a Security Council seat but there is also the courage and the foresight of this Government in overturning the previous Labour Government’s bizarre decision in 2007 to oppose the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. So I count myself pretty lucky and privileged to have been at the United Nations when Dr Pita Sharples presented the case and righted the wrong. That was indeed a great privilege of my political career.Although we congratulate all of those involved in supporting the bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council as others have said we must also recognise the challenges ahead. New Zealand must use our strength and our moral courage to now focus on those goals of connectivity particularly in light of the rights of indigenous peoples. We must take advantage of our efforts to address the most pressing security concerns for humanity: issues such as the negative impact of climate change and the degradation of our environment the desperate need to disarm nuclear weapons and the elimination of poverty. We in Aotearoa are clearly respected throughout the world and have a solid reputation. We need to ensure that we continue to build on that. Ka nui te mihi.Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future):I want to join with others in paying tribute and congratulating the successive generations of politicians diplomats and officials who over the last 10 years have mounted this wonderful campaign that has seen New Zealand succeed in winning election on to the Security Council for the 2-year term 2015 to 2016.Last week I reviewed the speech that Peter Fraser made in San Francisco in 1945 when he described New Zealand as being a small country. He said that it was indeed one of the smallest of the small but that that did not remove our right to be represented on the international stage and to have a voice. As we take up this role on the Security Council those words are as appropriate today as they were then.Reference has already been made to the role that New Zealand played in the Rwanda situation and that was a combination of our independence our insight and our moral courage to be able to take a stand that was ultimately right and that stopped the absolute slaughter that was occurring. There will be challenges of a similar type that will face us during the 2-year term that lies ahead.We were elected to the Security Council because of the virtues that we bring as a small nation. During that term and as we approach those challenges the expectation will be upon us to act as the voice of small nations to bring that balance that distance and that perspective that people admire in us and not to simply be a surrogate for the major players round the Security Council table. If we can perform that role with dignity and with élan then in fact we will not only achieve the aspiration that Peter Fraser set out way back in 1945 but also make a material contribution to improving the circumstances of so many people around the world in addressing the major issues that have been raised even in this House this afternoon that people expect New Zealand to take a stand on during its term on the Security Council.DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT):I would like to add my congratulations to all of the people who have worked over many years to secure New Zealand’s representation on the Security Council for the 2015-16 term. That this effort has been ongoing for almost a decade is a tribute to the perseverance of all involved and to New Zealand’s reputation in the world as an honest broker.Like all representative institutions the United Nations is not perfect. It brings those free and democratic countries that share a profound respect for liberty and property rights together with many countries that for now have few if any of those attributes and it gives relatively equal standing to all—except of course for the permanent members of the Security Council. One important rationale for securing this position is that it offers some chance to improve the institutions of the United Nations.We are indisputably a free and democratic country with an independent foreign policy and an outward-looking view on trading relationships. We have much to offer. Another reason for participation is that we like everybody else should make a contribution. New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador in Washington through 1944 to 1952 Sir Carl Berendsen expressed this well when he said: “We in New Zealand are not of those who ask what we are not prepared to give we are not of those who demand help which we are not prepared to accord and we are not of those who are content to leave to others burdens which we ourselves should assume.” In short he was arguing that we should play our part. I commend this motion to the House.Motion agreed to.