3 Aug 2014

Labour wants 'Minister of Disarmament'

6:35 pm on 3 August 2014

The Labour Party is promising to reinstate the Minister of Disarmament as a Cabinet position if elected to government.

Labour's disarmament and arms control spokesperson Maryan Street said New Zealand once led the world with its anti-nuclear stance and promotion of disarmament in international forums.

She said reinstating the ministerial position would prioritise helping to create a nuclear weapons-free world.

"There's a lot more happening internationally now, people are turning to a new agenda for disarmament and New Zealand needs to be at the forefront of that."

Ms Street said the humanitarian consequences of any nuclear conflict were too horrific to contemplate.