Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3349] 
8.  
KEITH LOCKE (Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she agree that New Zealand should “oppose a war on the innocent people of Iraq whether or not the attack is sanctioned by the United Nations” as requested by Greenpeace in its open letter of 5 February 2003 to her; if not why not? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 New Zealand as a member of the United Nations is obliged to uphold resolutions of the Security Council. The Government does not believe that the use of force is justified at this time. 
Keith Locke 
: Would a US-led invasion if it were endorsed by the United Nations cause any fewer deaths of innocent men women and children than a unilateral US invasion and if it would not cause fewer deaths why would we offer any level of military contribution to such a UN-endorsed invasion? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The short answer is that in the event of an invasion right now regardless of who sanctioned it the human consequences would probably be the same. What I want to register with the member is that the Government does not support resort to the use of force at this time. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why will the Government not support Australia the United Kingdom the United States and other countries in obtaining a second resolution in the United Nations given her own statement yesterday in this Parliament stating that Secretary Colin Powell had presented a strong case suggesting a pattern of deception and concealment by the Iraqi regime of weapons of mass destruction? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Because the use of force to uphold UN resolutions is very much a last resort and that point has not been reached. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Why is it in fact important for New Zealand to support United Nations resolutions? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The rule of international law depends on members of the UN accepting the outcomes of the democratic processes established to make decisions. New Zealand was a founding member of the United Nations and this Government would not support moves that would undermine the authority of that body. 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: Is the Prime Minister surprised to receive this question given the honourable member’s public commitment to serve as a human shield in downtown Baghdad and will she notify the member when war is imminent as this House would hate for the innocent people of Iraq to miss the benefit of the shield and would like him to receive this token of our esteem before leaving? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question can be very briefly commented on. 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The question does not surprise me because it reflects a position that Keith Locke has long articulated and he is perfectly entitled in this House to state his views. My advice to him and to any other New Zealanders who are considering being a human shield in the event of hostilities is not to do it. 
Keith Locke 
: In the light of the Prime Minister’s comment that the use of force is a last resort for the United Nations would it not be contrary to the UN charter for the United Nations Security Council to endorse an invasion because the charter does describe the peaceful resolution of disputes and it is quite clear that in the current situation Iraq is not about to invade any of its neighbours? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: It is certainly debatable whether Iraq right now presents a clear and present danger. The major point I want to make though is that it is becoming increasingly clear that the inspectors still believe that they can usefully carry on with their work in line with UN resolutions. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: On Saturday will the Prime Minister and her colleagues be joining thousands of New Zealanders and millions of people worldwide to march for peace in Iraq as she did many years ago for peace in Vietnam? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I am sure that members of the Government will be present at those rallies. I do not plan to be there myself.