Today, New Zealand has informed the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) via New Zealand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, that in accordance with Article 61 of the International Health Regulations (IHR), New Zealand has officially rejected the proposed Amendments.

We know that this issue is important to New Zealanders and we fought on your behalf to ensure these IHR amendments were fully rejected.

“New Zealand First has always said that any decisions about the health of Kiwis should be made from Wellington, not Geneva.” – Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First made a promise to put the national interests of New Zealanders first, as we always have. Rejecting these amendments ensures that we maintain our sovereign decision making, and it pushes back on globalist bureaucrats.

In our coalition agreement we specifically included that we would ensure a ‘National Interest Test’ is undertaken before New Zealand accepts any agreements from the UN and its agencies that limit national decision-making. And that this would reconfirm our domestic law holds primacy over any international agreements.

So when we first got back into parliament late 2023, we immediately reserved against the proposed amendments to WHO health regulations while we considered these against our ‘National Interest Test’.

Philipa, we kept our promise. And we have now officially rejected these amendments.

New Zealand First is the only Nationalist party.

We are defending our nation’s sovereignty.

We are putting New Zealand, and New Zealanders first.

We always have. We always will.