Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York this evening to support New Zealand’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

“September is an important month for New Zealand as President of the Council, with meetings over the next two weeks on the Middle East Peace Process, Colombia, Afghanistan, Libya, South Sudan and aviation security,” Mr McCully says.

“In addition to these meetings, New Zealand will be co-hosting an event in support of small island developing states, with a focus on renewable energy.  

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that agreement on a ceasefire in Syria has been reached.

“The agreement is a breakthrough but the coming days will be crucial as we wait to see if the ceasefire holds," Mr McCully says.

"A halt to the fighting is an important first step and we urge all parties to return to negotiations on a permanent end to the war and a political transition without delay.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says North Korea’s nuclear test is a dangerous affront to the international community and a serious threat to regional security.

“This latest nuclear test is highly provocative and deeply concerning, especially as it comes on the back of a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea recently” Mr McCully says.

“This is the fifth nuclear test conducted by North Korea, and it directly defies the UN Security Council which has demanded that North Korea stop nuclear testing.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says that New Zealand condemns yesterday’s multiple missile launches by North Korea.

“The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly demanded that North Korea not launch ballistic missiles,” Mr McCully says

“Yesterday’s launches and the other tests conducted this year by North Korea are a serious challenge to the security of the Asia-Pacific region. 

“New Zealand again urges North Korea to adhere to previous Security Council resolutions and to refrain from further tests. 

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named Peter Marshall as New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

“New Zealand and the Cook Islands have a special relationship, based on historical ties and shared citizenship,” Mr McCully says.

“Last year marked the Cook Islands’ fiftieth anniversary of self-government in free association with New Zealand and year-long celebrations culminated in reciprocal prime ministerial visits.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has named new Consuls-General in Guangzhou, Los Angeles and Honolulu.

Rachel Maidment will be New Zealand’s next Consul-General Guangzhou. Following a 10 year career as a diplomat, she established a leading Asia consultancy, Navigate, providing services to a wide range of government and private sector clients.

“Guangzhou is one of China’s largest and most prosperous cities, and is now the centre for politics, business, innovation and culture in South China,” says Mr McCully.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has announced Michael Upton as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Kiribati.

“New Zealand and Kiribati have a strong relationship and we work closely in areas of sustainable economic development, fisheries cooperation, water and sanitation, climate change, and maritime safety,” Mr McCully says.

“The High Commissioner will be responsible for overseeing New Zealand’s aid programme in Kiribati, which will total around $17 million this year.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos of the conclusion of a peace agreement between the Colombia Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC) guerrilla movement.

“This is an important development for Colombia and for the region, that will afford the people of Colombia greater stability and prosperity in the years to come,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Europe next week to visit the United Kingdom, Slovakia, France, Hungary, and Russia. 

“Slovakia is the current European Union President and this visit is an opportunity to meet with Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, and gain his perspective on the early discussions around Brexit,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Suva tomorrow for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

“The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is an important opportunity to discuss regional priorities such as climate change, fisheries, and economic integration,” Mr McCully says.

“The Ministerial level meeting will also help inform the agenda for the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting which will take place in the Federated States of Micronesia later this year.”

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Stephen Payton as New Zealand’s next ambassador to Japan.

“New Zealand has long-standing and strong ties with Japan, underpinned by a close network of personal and business relationships,” Mr McCully says.

“A major focus for the Ambassador will be on helping to promote New Zealand interests in the areas of food and agriculture, security, and energy.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Laos next week to attend the ASEAN-NZ Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 23rd ASEAN Regional Forum.

“New Zealand has long-standing ties with ASEAN and we enjoy close cooperation with member states across a range of regional issues,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has called on all parties to respect the Arbitral Tribunal ruling on maritime rights in the South China Sea.

“While New Zealand does not take a position on the various territorial claims in the South China Sea we have consistently stated that the differing interests in the region should be managed peacefully and in accordance with international law,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Mongolia this week to attend the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.

“The ASEM Summit brings together representatives from 53 European and Asian nations to foster closer relations between the two regions,” Mr McCully says.

“The membership includes some of New Zealand most important trading partners and represents nearly 60 per cent of the world’s GDP and population.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that this year’s Tropic Twilight Exercise will be conducted in Tonga’s Ha’apai group of islands.

“Tropic Twilight is an annual exercise in the Pacific which tests the readiness of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to work with the military and governments from around the region on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” Mr Brownlee says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will provide a further $2.8 million in funding for the Afghan National Police and the Central Prison Department.

“Afghanistan continues to face a number of serious challenges particularly around security and the maintenance of law and order,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has named diplomat Greg Andrews as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Belgium. He will also be accredited to Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Romania.

“New Zealand’s relationship with Belgium is important, as a large proportion of New Zealand's exports to the European Union enter through the Belgian ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge,” says Mr McCully.  

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand will make a $1.4 million contribution to help rebuild communities damaged by fighting in Iraq. This latest funding takes New Zealand’s humanitarian assistance to those affected by conflict in Syria and Iraq to $23.9 million over the past five years.

“Restoring core services and infrastructure in Iraq is crucial to ensuring that people displaced by conflict are able to return to the towns and cities retaken from ISIL,” Mr McCully says.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that an agreement has been reached between the Governments of New Zealand and the United States of America covering the safeguards associated with the use in New Zealand of controlled U.S. rocket technology.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Norway this weekend to participate in the Oslo Forum, and will then travel to Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.

“The Oslo Forum is an annual meeting focused on conflict mediation and resolution,” Mr McCully says.

“The Forum provides a further opportunity for New Zealand to push for the resolution of key global conflicts, building on our efforts in the UN Security Council, and to reiterate New Zealand’s calls for a greater global focus on conflict prevention.”

New Zealand and the European Union today welcomed the successful conclusion of the Pacific Energy Conference in Auckland which saw donors commit over $1 billion for sustainable energy projects in the Pacific.

“The $635 million committed at the 2013 Pacific Energy Summit has translated into over $900 million of investments across 70 projects,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully says.