Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Mr President.
As this is my first time taking the floor I would like to congratulate you on your election, as well as the election of all members of the bureau. You have our full support.
Thank you also to the Secretary General of the ISA for your comprehensive report on the work of the International Seabed Authority.
New Zealand welcomes the ongoing work of the Authority in developing a regulatory framework to govern seabed mining in the Area. New Zealand is actively engaging with the Authority on the development of this framework. Along with other states, we seek a regulatory framework that ensures the effective protection and preservation of the marine environment, and we consider that mining should only be able to take place in the Area once such a framework is in place.
The need for legal certainty to confirm this is becoming increasingly pressing with the two-year deadline due to expire next month.
I thank you.