Excellencies, Foreign Minister Wirajuda, Foreign Minister Smith

I want to commence by thanking both Indonesia and Australia for organising and co-hosting this Bali process meeting. Thank you both for your personal commitment and support for this process; thank you Minister Wirajuda for your hospitality in Bali. I am heartened to be in the presence of so many distinguished colleagues from so many countries working together to address common challenges.

New Zealand has been a strong supporter of and actively engaged in the Bali Process since its inception in 2002. We have co-hosted and participated in workshops, acted as the Country Coordinator for Legal Frameworks and valued our participation in the Bali Process Steering Group, which has met regularly over the past seven years to guide the various initiatives and activities of the Bali Process. It has proved a useful body and we trust it will continue its excellent work. 

Bali Process members have engaged in an extensive programme of activities since the last Ministerial meeting in 2003. This is indicative of the value that members place in working together in regional mechanisms. We believe that instances of irregular migration can only be properly addressed through a regional mechanism in which all member countries work together in a spirit of cooperation and openness. 

New Zealand supports the re-invigoration of the Bali Process. We are encouraged that Bali Process members have taken this opportunity to carefully consider how the Bali Process can move forward into the next decade. 

In particular we think there is scope for the Bali Process to address irregular migration in the Asia-Pacific region, on a case-by-case basis and at the invitation of the countries concerned particularly in situations where a regional, cooperative approach can add value to our individual efforts. 

New Zealand put forward a proposal on behalf of the Steering Group at the Senior Officials' Meeting in Brisbane that the Ad Hoc Group mechanisms used during the establishment of the Bali Process be retasked to develop regional responses to current challenges.

1. New Zealand understands that the Bali Process cannot solve all instances of irregular migration. But we believe that the Bali Process has reached a level of maturity where we can now consider new cooperative mechanisms to address people smuggling and trafficking in persons in a fashion that is realistic, practical and cognisant of the "human dimension" of irregular migration.

All irregular movements of people should be of serious concern to both receiving and sending countries. Those engaged in people smuggling and trafficking are committing serious crimes that cross international borders and damage many lives.

Despite New Zealand's geographical isolation, which mitigates our exposure to people smuggling and trafficking in persons, we treat these issues very seriously.

We are pleased to see that even more isolated neighbours in the Pacific are here today, demonstrating their support for the Bali process. Bilaterally, and through organisations like the Pacific Immigration Directors' Conference, New Zealand works closely with Pacific countries on an issue that challenges us all.

On human trafficking specifically, New Zealand continually works to prevent its occurrence, fund victim support to international agencies and programmes and prepare for dealing with any cases that may arise in New Zealand. As part of this preparation and in line with our membership of the Bali Process, New Zealand has developed a whole-of-government Plan of Action to Prevent People Trafficking, which will put in place specific strategies to enhance our existing measures aimed at prosecuting people traffickers and assisting victims. 

The Plan of Action is in the final stages of drafting and will be considered by Cabinet in the coming months. The mid-year publication of the Plan of Action will inform on New Zealand's latest measures to help bring an end to people trafficking and reaffirm New Zealand's commitment to preventing and detecting people trafficking, bringing offenders to justice and offering protection and assistance to victims of trafficking.

Thank you Co-chairs and distinguished Bali Process members