State dossier
New Zealand
NZL · NEW ZEALAND · on the world map
What does it want?
Position: wants a treaty with bans (LBI-BAN). Supports a legally binding treaty that prohibits some systems.
Wants a treaty with bans (LBI-BAN), since 2021-11-16, stated directly (EXPLICIT)
In November 2021 the New Zealand Cabinet decided that the country would push for a legally binding instrument that bans autonomous weapons that cannot be predicted or controlled and sets controls on the rest. New Zealand repeated this two-tier aim in its 2024 submission to the UN Secretary-General and in its statements to the Geneva expert group.
The Cabinet decided New Zealand will advocate for a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons.
Aotearoa New Zealand will advocate for a legally-binding instrument to articulate these rules or limits
Autonomous Weapons Systems: New Zealand Policy Position and Approach for International Engagement (Cabinet minute ERS-21-MIN-0046), 2021-11-16 source
The same decision commits New Zealand to seek an express prohibition on some systems, alongside controls on others.
pursue an express prohibition on autonomous weapons systems that are not sufficiently predictable or controllable to meet legal or ethical requirements
Autonomous Weapons Systems: New Zealand Policy Position and Approach for International Engagement (Cabinet minute ERS-21-MIN-0046), 2021-11-16 source
The 2024 submission to the Secretary-General restates the aim of binding prohibitions and regulation.
New Zealand continues to seek binding international prohibitions and regulation of AWS.
UNGA Resolution 78/241: Submission by New Zealand, 2024-05-21 source
At the March 2024 expert group session New Zealand backed the two-tier approach with a specific prohibition.
Our ambition is for a new, specific prohibition on weapons that cannot operate in compliance with IHL
CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems: New Zealand statement, March 2024 session, 2024-03-04 source
Shown large among its peers · hover a mark for its position
How did it vote?
Yes on all three UN votes on autonomous weapons.
Hover a legend chip to light those votes · each resolution links to its record
What has it signed?
Being on a list is a fact. Not being on one is not opposition.
Hover a column heading to light its signings · click a seal to open the document
When has it spoken?
Every time it went on the record, dated.
Hover a mark for what it was · a legend chip lights that type
What rules has it written at home?
Its own military policy.
Military policy not yet reviewed by this site, as of 2026-11-04.
The record
The documents on file.
Each mark opens its source