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Does the Government consider that New Zealand has an obligation under the Rome Statute to cooperate with ICC arrest warrants issued against nationals of non-States Parties who enter New Zealand territory; if so, what steps has the Government taken to prepare for such a scenario?

Answered Question 34301 (2026)
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Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Does the Government consider that New Zealand has an obligation under the Rome Statute to cooperate with ICC arrest warrants issued against nationals of non-States Parties who enter New Zealand territory; if so, what steps has the Government taken to prepare for such a scenario?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

The Rome Statute requires all States Parties to cooperate fully with the Court. This includes cooperating with arrest warrants. New Zealand's International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000 (The Act) provides that the Rome Statutehas force of law in New Zealand and sets out the process for handling cooperating requests from the ICC, including requests for the arrest and surrender of an individual subject to an arrest warrant.