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Further to reply 33604 (2026), under what delegated authority may a New Zealand representative depart from voting instructions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade?

Answered Question 35434 (2026)
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Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Further to reply 33604 (2026), under what delegated authority may a New Zealand representative depart from voting instructions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

New Zealand representatives to any multilateral body cast votes as instructed. If facts which may have been material to a decision on how to vote on a particular resolution emerge after the issuing of voting instructions, then the New Zealand representative consults MFAT officials in Wellington about what to do. That is what occurred in this case, and an abstention resulted.