Sio Hon Aupito WilliamHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): It's a pleasure to take a call on the Brokering (Weapons and Related Items) Controls Bill. I note that this had its first reading in August 2017. The Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee dealt with consideration of this bill on 29 March 2018 and now we are here—March April May—two months later to take its third and final reading.I want to acknowledge firstly the members of that Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee as well as the people of the ministry. Why? Because whilst there's been a change of Government the officials of our ministry remain the same. I want to acknowledge that even when we were in Opposition and dealing with international affairs particularly when it came to the Arms Trade Treaty it was the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade who continued to provide us with information ensured that we were briefed and ensured that we were articulating consistent messages on the international arena particularly around the Pacific region.So I want to say that and I also want to acknowledge the work of the elder statesman of this Parliament the Rt Hon Winston Peters because although this began from the Opposition last year I think most of us will acknowledge the fact that in that role of foreign affairs Minister he has taken the bull by the horns to provide good strong leadership in terms of establishing strong stakes as to our role in this region of ours the Pacific region but also our role on the international scene.I then come back to this bill which is introducing a new regime to regulate—and the bill refers to the brokering of weapons and military equipment. Brokering" simply means the transfer of arms from one country to another and it includes weapons military equipment as well as related technologies. The bill also refers to dual usage both military and for civil services. I remember when there was a campaign around the region for the Arms Trade Treaty. New Zealand took a very strong leadership role in that. It wasn't just the Government; there were a number of organisations both in New Zealand as well as around the region who felt strongly that we needed to sign up to the Arms Trade Treaty and therefore ratify it which we did in 2013 and 2014. One of the reasons was that the Pacific region did not want those weapons of war circulating in our region and being used for the wrong reason—being used in conflict zones being used in particular areas where human rights would be at risk and the lives particularly of women and children would be at risk. And so this legislation actually is a good signal for New Zealand that we mean what we say when we are talking to the region when we are talking to the international community about us being responsible and us being a country that is genuinely concerned about ensuring that the transfer of arms weapons and whatnot from one country to another is being regulated and can be used for individual military purposes and for civil usage but not for the illegal use of killing war etc.This bill also supports that commitment that we made in 2013 when we signed up to the Arms Trade Treaty and therefore ratified it in 2014. I know around the Pacific region there are many Pacific Island countries that struggle a little bit with implementing the Arms Trade Treaty or acceding to the Arms Trade Treaty given that climate change is really the issue of the day and is one of the priorities for many Pacific Islands. The argument I've used in trying to promote our moral stance around the region is to say to the Pacific Island nations "Look as small as we are it is important to show to the rest of the world that we do take seriously our responsibility as global citizens and that we do take seriously the fact that climate change threatens lives global war threatens lives and nuclear weapons threaten lives." Therefore it is a responsibility of all global citizens to take seriously the need to regulate the movement or the transfer of weapons and military equipment and related technology.The bill also supports our commitment as a country in terms of our participation in the four international export control regimes for conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction and related goods and technology. Why do we need the brokering legislation? Well the Arms Trade Treaty requires us to do so. While New Zealand currently regulates the import the export and the internal movements of arms we do not currently have a statutory regime that regulates brokering or the transfer from country to country of weapons and arms. Our voluntary registration scheme was put in place when New Zealand ratified the Arms Trade Treaty but this bill introduces more comprehensive controls consistent without our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and the bill enables New Zealand to play its part in the international framework to prevent and deter illicit arms brokering.How much of an issue is brokering in New Zealand? Well the scale of brokering activities taking place in New Zealand is limited. We currently have about 11 entities registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the voluntary registration scheme. However of those 11 less than five were potentially interested in actual brokering and while it's unknown how many New Zealanders may be involved in brokering activity overseas without legislative controls we risk facilitating the illegitimate movements of arms and military equipment. So we're also seeking to avoid having illicit arms brokers shift their activities to New Zealand and this bill prevents New Zealand from being a weak link in international efforts to address illicit arms brokering.Is New Zealand currently meeting its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty? Yes of course we're meeting our obligations. This bill is seeking more comprehensive controls particularly inter-territorial application. Who's subject to the brokering of this regime? Any person physically present in New Zealand if they conduct brokering activity and that includes foreign nationals in New Zealand—for example a British national in New Zealand who manages an arms transaction from one country to another is captured. New Zealand citizens—New Zealand ordinary citizens—and New Zealand entities registered or incorporated in New Zealand that may be living or operating overseas and conduct brokering activity from that country are all captured by this regime.How would the average person know they may be subject to the bill and should be registered as brokers? Well it's reasonable to expect most people dealing with weapons military equipment or dual-use goods to know that it is a controlled activity and that they should look into how to broker these goods lawfully. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will publish extensive guidelines on its website for prospective brokers on New Zealand's regime. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade encourages all prospective brokers to first inquire with them to seek advice on the status of the goods they're intending to broker and whether they may or are likely to fall within an exception.There are other safeguards in the legislation which I'm supportive of and I think that's important. I think people will have confidence that we're doing the right thing as international citizens of the world but also applying to make sure that all our citizens whether here or overseas are living up to our international commitments to international regimes around export controls of weapons and the like. Thank you very much Madam Deputy Speaker."