Murray McCully

The spirit of unanimity in which the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 2334 on December 23 stands in sharp contrast to the condemnation and accusations that have dominated subsequent commentary from Israel and that country's supporters.

New Zealanders deserve to know why the issue of settlements has become so challenging, and why it came before the council in December 2016.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 regarding the Middle East Peace Process. The resolution passed with 14 votes in favour and an abstention from the US.

“New Zealand voted for and co-sponsored the resolution because it is consistent with long-held New Zealand policy positions on the Palestinian question,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will provide an additional $1 million to help Syrian people affected by the civil war, including those in Aleppo.

The money will go to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has been helping evacuate civilians from Aleppo.

“New Zealanders are appalled at the ongoing death and destruction in Syria and the conditions on the ground in besieged areas such as east Aleppo,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of Sue Mackwell as High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea.

“New Zealand and Papua New Guinea enjoy a strong relationship, and we work closely together in the areas of sustainable economic development, agriculture, and renewable energy,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae will be New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

“The appointment of Sir Jerry Mateparae as our High Commissioner in London underlines the significance New Zealand places on our relationship with the UK,” Mr McCully says.

“Sir Jerry has been Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force and Chief of Army, and until recently he was New Zealand’s Governor-General.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat James Munro as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He will also be accredited to Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

“New Zealand has a strong and growing bilateral relationship with the Gulf states,” Mr McCully says.

“Our exports to the Gulf Cooperation council were worth $1.7 billion in 2015 and Saudi Arabia is one of New Zealand’s top 20 trading partners.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, has announced diplomat Dr David Walker as New Zealand’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva.

“The WTO is of fundamental importance to New Zealand.  WTO rules provide the bedrock of all international trade and therefore also underpin the network of free trade agreements that New Zealand has successfully negotiated over the last two decades,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York tomorrow for UN Security Council meetings.

“This will be my final visit to New York during our two years on the United Nations Security Council,” Mr McCully says. 

“We are focused on working right up to the last day and while in New York I will participate in the quarterly Open Debate on the Middle East, which will include a briefing from outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and a Ministerial-level debate on Non-Proliferation hosted by the new Foreign Minister of Spain.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the visit to New Zealand later this week by Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock Seng and Energy and Industry Minister Pehin Yasmin Umar.

“Brunei is an important partner for New Zealand in South East Asia, and we enjoy friendly cooperation in defence, trade and education,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today named diplomat Andrew Jenks as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Spain.

“Spain is an important partner for New Zealand and a key member of the European Union,” Mr McCully says. 

“Spain is a base for a number of NZ companies operating in the region, and there is scope to further develop our trade and economic relationship.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today named diplomat Joanna Kempkers as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to India. Ms Kempkers will be based in New Delhi and cross-accredited to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

“As members of the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand and India have a close relationship,” Mr McCully says.

“India is our second largest source of skilled migrants and international students.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that the use of the veto in response to a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Syria is cynical and disappointing.

“New Zealand co-sponsored a resolution with Egypt and Spain calling for a halt to the violence in Syria, humanitarian access to Aleppo, and the resumption of negotiations,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed a United Nations Security Council Resolution imposing strengthened sanctions on North Korea following their fifth nuclear test, conducted in September. 

“New Zealand strongly condemns North Korea’s nuclear tests as a provocative and dangerous challenge to regional security,” Mr McCully says.

“North Korea’s actions have directly defied the UN Security Council, which has demanded that the country cease nuclear and missile tests.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand has joined with Egypt and Spain to put forward a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

“The tabling of the joint resolution today follows negotiations between Security Council members over the last two weeks and builds on New Zealand’s efforts during our Presidency of the Security Council in September,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today named diplomat Nicole Roberton as New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna and Ambassador to Austria.

“The focus of the Permanent Mission is advancing New Zealand’s nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation interests, particularly in relation to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced the appointment of diplomat Mary Thurston as Ambassador to Poland, with accreditation to the Ukraine.

“Poland and New Zealand share a long history and warm relationship based around migration, common values, and international cooperation,” Mr McCully says.

“Poland is an increasingly important member of the EU and Poland’s expanding economy offers opportunities for New Zealand business, particularly in education services and agri-business.”

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced diplomat David Nicholson as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Samoa.

“Samoa is a close and long-standing friend, and an important partner for New Zealand in the Pacific,” Mr McCully says.

“Our relationship is founded on the Treaty of Friendship and strong ongoing economic, political and cultural links. We also work closely together on a range of regional initiatives and through the Pacific Forum.”

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Ladies and Gentlemen

In my eight years serving as Foreign Minister I can’t think of a more interesting time to be addressing this group.

We are entering period of global uncertainty on a number of fronts.

Populism and nationalism are on the rise in many quarters.

During my occasional visits to New Zealand I am often asked which countries I have been to where the economy is in such good shape and the political scene is so stable. The answer, of course, is nowhere.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced that HMNZS Wellington will depart for the Southern Ocean on Sunday from Dunedin to monitor the annual fishing season in the Ross Sea region.

“New Zealand is working closely with international partners to stamp out illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean,” Mr Brownlee says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that the Japanese whaling fleet’s departure for the Southern Ocean defies international opinion and serves no legitimate scientific purpose.

“New Zealand has long-standing and deep-seated concerns about whaling in the Southern Ocean and we urge Japan to reconsider this year’s hunt,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Middle East next week to meet with leaders and counterparts in Jordan, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories and to attend the Sir Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi.

“New Zealand continues to serve as a member of the United Nations Security Council until the end of the year and we remain focused on doing what we can to help address the current conflicts in the Middle East,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the announcement that US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit New Zealand next week.

“The upcoming visit by Secretary Kerry is a valuable opportunity to canvass the many positive developments in the New Zealand – US relationship this year, including the recent visit by Vice President Biden in July,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the release of the Auditor-General’s inquiry into the Saudi Arabia Food Security Partnership.

“Having looked at all the relevant documentation and having spoken to all relevant parties the Auditor-General’s report states categorically that there is no evidence of bribery, corruption, or facilitation payments, as claimed by the Opposition,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today hailed a breakthrough agreement that will create the world’s largest Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea region of the Antarctic.

“At its annual meeting in Hobart this week, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) unanimously agreed to a New Zealand-United States proposal to establish a marine protected area in the Ross Sea,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs