OIA-28099 Annex:
Question 1: I request under the Official Information Act what efforts have been made to
propose or reform the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) into a political and economic union along
the lines of the European Union.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation.
New Zealand has not made any efforts to propose or reform the PIF into a political and economic
union. However, at their recent meeting, Forum Leaders adopted the
2050 Strategy for the Blue
Pacific Continent, a regional strategy to protect and secure Pacific people, place and prospects in
the near-medium term future. The Strategy can be found here:
https://www.forumsec.org/wp-
content/uploads/2022/07/PIFS-2050-Strategy-WEB-11July2022.pdf.
Question 2: Additionally I request under the Official Information Act if New Zealand,
Australia, ANZUS or the PIF have a similar policy to the Monroe Doctrine. Where any
outside attempt by a outside power to oppress or control any nation in the PIF area would
be viewed as a hostile act against New Zealand, Australia or the PIF.
The Monroe Doctrine was a term coined to describe a historic United States policy of the early
1800s that opposed European colonialism in the Americas. Aotearoa New Zealand does not
subscribe to the Monroe Doctrine. The ANZUS Treaty was signed between Australia,
New Zealand and the United States in 1951. No other countries are party to the Treaty and
therefore the Treaty does not apply to them. The treaty can be found here:
www.treaties.mfat.govt.nz/search/details/t/1599.
Please note that since 1986 the United States has suspended its treaty obligations under ANZUS
with respect to New Zealand.
The Ministry is not required to answer hypotheticals under the OIA.
Question 3: Additionally I request under the Official Information Act if any agreement has
been made or is in process to prevent the stationing of any armed forces from the People's
Republic of China in PIF countries
There is no specific agreement in force between New Zealand and Pacific Countries that explicitly
deals with this matter. In the recent 51st Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué (14 July 2022),
Leaders of Pacific Islands Forum Countries, including New Zealand, declared that:
“24. Leaders reaffirmed the importance of utilising existing regional mechanisms, including
the Pacific Islands Forum, for engagement with partners, especially where multiple Pacific
Island Countries are concerned, whilst still being respectful of the sovereign right of
countries to engage with partners as they consider appropriate.
25. On the issue of regional security, Leaders noted that the 2050 Strategy calls for a
flexible and responsive regional security mechanism in place to address traditional and non-
traditional security issues in our region. Leaders reaffirmed the concept of regionalism and a
family first approach to peace and security. Leaders further noted that the Forum Officials’
Committee has tasked the development of a Security Policy Roadmap and the Pacific
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz
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Security Outlook Report to support the alignment to the Boe Declaration and the thematic
area for Peace and Security in the 2050 Strategy.”
Question 4: Lastly, I request under the Official Information Act if the ANZUS treaty would
be triggered if an act from a foreign aggressor presents an existential treat to a member
country. For example, should the People's Republic of China try to move troops into the
Solomon Islands would ANZUS have at its disposal the ability to blockade this deployment
and it result in a similar situation to the Cuban missile crisis.
The ANZUS Treaty was signed between Australia, New Zealand and the United States in 1951.
No other countries are party to the Treaty, including the Solomon Islands and therefore the
Treaty does not apply to them. Under Article IV each party “recognizes that an armed attack in
the Pacific Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and
declare that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional
processes”.
Please note that since 1986 the United States has suspended its treaty obligations under ANZUS
with respect to New Zealand.
The Ministry is not required to answer hypotheticals under the OIA.
