Shaw JamesHon JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green): President Zelenskyy on behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand I do first want to acknowledge the pain and the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is as barbaric as it is illegal. In the horror of war it is ordinary people who suffer the most. It is apparent that there have been and continues to be a multitude of war crimes perpetuated on the Ukrainian people by the Russian forces. We condemn this extraordinary violence we condemn these breaches of international law and we condemn the violation of fundamental human rights in the strongest possible terms. The priority must be an end to Russia's aggression and peace for the Ukrainian people. President Zelenskyy I do want to thank you for your address to Parliament and I do want to acknowledge and thank you for opening your address in the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand. I acknowledge your leadership and the fortitude of your people in the face of the violence visited upon you and your people. One of the central principles of the charter of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a commitment to non-violent conflict resolution. It is quite apparent that were President Putin to be successful the temporary violence of war would morph into the permanent violence of subjugation and perhaps even genocide. It is therefore vital that Ukraine can defend itself. We have to acknowledge that Ukraine's response to Russia's violence will itself involve some violence not because Ukraine wants that but because you have little choice against an aggressor so firmly committed to violent means and I applaud the efforts of you and your administration to minimise harm to civilians and to conduct your war within the norms that we would expect of a civilised nation. New Zealand's role in the global response to this conflict must be to support a peaceful resolution however we can in respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity as provided for under international law. We are best placed to support humanitarian efforts to deal with the rippling consequences of the conflict. This involves aid relief corridors and refugee resettlement. We should increase our work with multilateral institutions and support their attempts to bring about a peaceful solution to this awful conflict and as you have called upon us to do to do what we can to restore food security and to address the ecocide that accompanies the genocide. If we can assist with mediation or to encourage larger States to engage in de-escalation we strongly support that. Whether through diplomatic efforts humanitarian work or the use of our respected status on the international stage New Zealand is well placed to form this contribution. When it comes to any future military support that New Zealand might provide we would ask that it comes before this Parliament. The extent to which our efforts further the cause of peace or exacerbate the violence of war is surely a matter for this House rather than just the Government alone. President Zelenskyy as a member of the Green Party I have a fundamental commitment to non-violence. As a New Zealander I have an interest in the commitment to a functional international system. The situation in Ukraine remains impossibly difficult in ways that we in Aotearoa New Zealand cannot possibly imagine. It is historic that you as the head of a Government in a land that is besieged by an invading colonising power have addressed this House. Ukraine is not alone in the sense that we and many others around the world stand alongside you and are supporting your cause. But you are also not alone sadly in the sense that there are many other peoples still on every continent who are also suffering from violence and subjugation. I would suggest to this House that perhaps we might look at ourselves and ask ourselves why it is that we don't extend them the same support that we do to the people of Ukraine. As Dr Martin Luther King said Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I sincerely hope that we do everything in our power to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and peace for her people. I also hope that we might allow ourselves to have you Mr President and the people of Ukraine remind us here how important these principles are for everyone and to recommit ourselves to these principles and to do everything in our power for all people everywhere so that these human rights may one day be truly universal. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa."