Ministry Statements & Speeches:
New Zealand welcomes the topic of focus for this year’s United Nations Open-Ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea - New
Maritime Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities.
We convey our sincere gratitude to the co-chairs from Finland and Tonga for bringing us together, both virtually and in person, to discuss this important issue.
New Zealand places great importance on our collective stewardship responsibilities for the ocean, its conservation and sustainable use. We are a maritime state of the Pacific, of the Blue Ocean Continent.
Across the Pacific region, the ocean defines ways of life. Economies rely on the ocean, through fisheries and aquaculture, tourism and shipping; livelihoods are closely linked to the sustainable use of marine resources; and culture and recreation take shape around the ocean and its shores.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the definitive legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and the UNCLOS framework provides sufficient flexibility to accommodate new and emerging technology.
New Zealand welcomes new maritime technologies which will not only provide new opportunities, but also allow us to build healthy, resilient and productive oceans, particularly in the face of the challenges of climate change. And we acknowledge the importance of capacity building and technology transfer to ensure that all states can benefit.
Technological developments offer both the potential of greater exploitation of resources but also, through increased understanding, greater environmental protection. However, while knowledge of the ocean and technological advancement has increased significantly, there is still so much we do not understand. We need to apply a precautionary approach and we need to take into account traditional knowledge, appropriately protected.
To that end, we are pleased with the successful conclusion of negotiations on the new UN treaty on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
New Zealand particularly appreciates the emphasis placed in the Report of the Secretary-General (in paragraphs 81, 86 and 87) on the importance of the legal and regulatory framework in not only maximising the benefits offered by new maritime technologies but, crucially, minimising potential adverse impacts that may result from their use, including on marine living resources, biodiversity, maritime safety and security and the protection and preservation of the marine environment.
Reflecting our commitment to supporting participation in these discussions, New Zealand is pleased to again be making a contribution to the UNICPOLOS Trust Fund, and we urge others in a position to do so to also support it.
We look forward to fruitful discussions on these most important issues.
I thank you.