Jacinda Ardern
Minister, Arts, Culture and Heritage
Minister, Child Poverty Reduction
Minister, National Security and Intelligence
Prime Minister
Kia ora. Good afternoon, everyone. Today, Cabinet signed off on five international military deployments, which I want to take the time to run you through now. You will recall that in June, just before I went on maternity leave, Cabinet deferred our decision on these deployments until 30 September. We did so in order to make a number of related decisions over deployments in the Middle East at one time. We’ve now considered all of that advice and made the following decisions.
First, we will extend our military training deployment in Iraq until June 2019. That aligns with the end of the current programme of training. The number will reduce from 143 to 121 personnel, however, from November of this year. New Zealand is firmly committed to international efforts to fight ISIS. While there have been significant gains on the ground in recent years, it is still clear that ISIS remains a threat and further support is required to help the Iraqi security forces ensure ISIS cannot reassert itself, and building capacity of the Iraqi forces is one way in which we can do that.
I do want to note, though: we have also decided that the Government will review the deployment again in early 2019. That’s to assess New Zealand’s options for contributing to stability in Iraq beyond June 2019. Iraq’s training needs will likely have evolved further by June, and the Government will evaluate our ongoing commitment again at that point.
Secondly, we will extend the deployment of the New Zealand Defence Force personnel to the Afghanistan National Army Officer Academy through to September 2019. However, we will conduct a strategic reassessment of that contribution in 2019. The New Zealand Defence Force has made a significant contribution to peace and stability in Afghanistan since 2001. After nearly 20 years, this Government thinks it’s time to assess the question of New Zealand’s longer-term presence there, including alternative military and civilian contributions. In addition to these deployments, the Government has decided to renew deployments to three peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and Africa: the United Nations mission in South Sudan, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Golan Heights and Lebanon, and the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. New Zealand has up to 28 New Zealand Defence Force personnel to the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt for two years, until 30 September 2020. We first joined this mission as a founding member in 1982, and we have had around 2,000 NZDF personnel who have served there since its inception, including the Minister of Defence, I believe.
We’ll extend the deployment of up to eight unarmed military observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization by two years, until September 2020. UNTSO was established in 1948 as the first ever UN peacekeeping mission, and New Zealand has contributed since 1954, making it our longest standing peacekeeping deployment.
And, finally, we’ll extend the mandate for three NZDF personnel deploying to leadership roles in the United Nations mission in South Sudan for 20 months until July 2020, and you’ll remember, of course, that that is the mission that David Shearer has a leadership role in. These three roles comprise two military liaison officers based in regional centres and an officer in mission headquarters.
I want to note that the Government takes very seriously any decisions to send Defence Force personnel into situations where there are risks to their safety and security—very, very seriously. Cabinet gave a huge amount of consideration to these decisions. We’ve also signalled to partners the decisions that we have made.
In the cases of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Government will be using the coming year to consider all of our options, and that does include withdrawal.
This is both a busy and historic week, in which our country will celebrate 125 years of women’s suffrage. Today, as well, the last two charter schools were given approval to integrate with the State sector. This means all 12 charter schools have been approved as either integrated or special character schools.
Tonight, I’ll be speaking at the launch of Stardust and Substance, Stephen Levine’s book looking back on the 2017 election. Tomorrow, I’m speaking briefly at an event in the Grand Hall celebrating women’s suffrage, and in particular the role of Pasifika women, including those who are honoured in the Queen’s Birthday awards.
Minister Iain Lees-Galloway will be introducing the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Remuneration Amendment Bill tomorrow. That, of course, as you’ll remember is the legislation to freeze MPs’ pay for a year. Then tomorrow night, I’ll be editing the New Zealand Herald suffrage edition. My theme for that edition is that within the ordinary or seemingly ordinary achievements of New Zealand women sits the extraordinary. I, of course, will not be editing any political stories for that edition, sadly.
Wednesday is Suffrage Day. I’m attending a celebration event in Auckland in the morning and will be participating in events during the day at Parliament, including a special debate, which will be co-hosted with the acting women’s Minister, Eugenie Sage.
On Thursday, I’ll be releasing the full itinerary for my trip to the United Nations General Assembly. My focus while in New York will be supporting the multilateral systems that are incredibly important for New Zealand; also issues around climate change, which I note features prominently in some of the side events and agenda within the UN leaders’ week; also the rights of women and children, advancing our trade agenda, and, of course, as always, strengthening relationships with our partners. I’ve set aside much of the day on Friday for pre-UNGA media interviews, as you will all know.
Thursday: I can also confirm that the independent Tax Working Group’s interim report will be published by the group. Today was the first opportunity for Cabinet to discuss the interim report, and I’m advised that the group’s secretariat will be sending around the details later today, inviting you to a media briefing on Thursday. That actually brings our busy week to a close. Happy to take questions.