The Government of New Zealand took a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region in multilateral counterterrorism organization. New Zealand worked closely with other Pacific Island Countries (PIC) to help them to build their capacity in all areas of counterterrorism and nonproliferation activity. Finally, New Zealand expressed its strong desire to work cooperatively with the United States on the bilateral, regional, and global levels to fight terrorism and achieve mutual nonproliferation objectives.

New Zealand places considerable importance on its compliance with international counterterrorism instruments. New Zealand uses the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as a key reference point and the government of New Zealand is working to ratify the remaining four of 16 international counterterrorism instruments to which New Zealand is not yet party – two of which concern maritime terrorism and two of which pertain to nuclear terrorism.

New Zealand designations of terrorist entities listed by the 1267 Committee occur automatically, by operation of law. The Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 as amended provides that all individuals and groups designated by the Security Council under Resolution 1267 are automatically designated domestically in New Zealand. New Zealand has yet to designate any individuals or entities pursuant to UN Security resolution 1373 that do not appear on the 1267 Committee list.

Under the Financial Transaction Reporting Act 1996, financial institutions are required to report transactions suspected of being linked to money laundering or proceeds of crime enforcement to the New Zealand Police Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington. In 2009, the FIU processed 4,963 Suspicious Transaction Reports and referred 976 of these to various law enforcement agencies and units for investigations. Over the same period, the FIU filed one Suspicious Property Reports pursuant to the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act.

New Zealand remained active in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In September, New Zealand deployed 71 Special Air Service (SAS) troops to Afghanistan. This was the first of three six-month rotations scheduled to take place between 2009 and 2011. In addition to the deployment of troops, New Zealand continued to lead the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan and had some 140 New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) personnel deployed there. NZDF also maintained personnel with the UN Assistance Mission in Jalabad, ISAF headquarters in Kabul, army training with the UK in Kabul and, until recently when it closed, two surgeons with the Canadian medical centre in Kandahar. Three New Zealand Police officers (NZP) were also deployed to Bamyan, under the auspices of the European Union Police Mission to train and mentor Afghan National Police (ANP). The focus of NZP's work in Afghanistan was on strengthening the capacity of the ANP. While the focus was on Bamyan Province, two of the three staff worked primarily at the U.S.-funded Regional Training Centre, located within the Bamyan Provincial Reconstruction Team compound, which trained staff for several provinces.

New Zealand development assistance to Afghanistan totaled US$ 6.7 million in 2009. It was delivered in Bamyan primarily through partners including the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Aga Khan Foundation, and Bamyan University. Supporting delivery of health and education was a key part of New Zealand's development assistance program, which had a particular focus on women and children.

New Zealand assists Pacific Island Countries' (PIC) understanding of, and compliance with, the international counterterrorism agenda. Strong focus is given to legislative and operational capacity-building projects many of which are funded through the Pacific Security Fund. In 2009:

  • New Zealand supported the running of a United Nations Workshop on Implementing Security Council Resolution 1540 for Pacific Island Countries in April in Port-Vila, Vanuatu.

  • New Zealand provided funding for the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering's technical assistance and training program with Pacific island countries.

  • New Zealand and a representative from the Pacific Island Secretariat chaired the 2009 Pacific Islands Forum Working Group on Counterterrorism. Funding for the event was provided by New Zealand drawing on the Pacific Security Fund.New Zealand also promotes counterterrorism capacity building and a range of regional security initiatives in Southeast Asia through the Asia Security Fund. Key projects over the last year included:

  • A number of training programs for law enforcement officials in the region, including training in terrorism scene investigation for counterparts in Vietnam; a month-long study visit on investigating violent crime for police officers from Aceh; and a one-week workshop on international peacekeeping for police officers from Singapore and the Philippines, based at the New Zealand Police College.

  • Continued support for the Indonesian National Police's community policing program, including providing country-wide "train the trainers" courses, a community policing study tour to New Zealand for key police officials, and support for the drafting of a community policing handbook.

  • The provision of surveillance equipment to Special Detachment 88, the counterterrorism unit within the Indonesian National Police.

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