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Has Cabinet considered any paper since 1 January 2026 relating to a possible New Zealand contribution to operations in the Red Sea or Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and if so, on what date(s)?

Answered Question 34256 (2026)
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Asked by

Damien O'Connor

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Has Cabinet considered any paper since 1 January 2026 relating to a possible New Zealand contribution to operations in the Red Sea or Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and if so, on what date(s)?

Answered by

Hon Chris Penk

Member for Kaipara ki Mahurangi · National Party · Minister of Defence

Answer

On 23 February 2026, Cabinet made a decision to renew the mandate for New Zealand’s longstanding maritime security commitments in the Middle East, a decision which has been announced on the https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/longstanding-defence-deployments-extended.