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Multilateral Environmental Agreements in force in New Zealand

Notes:

The date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect was usually the same as the date of ratification. In many cases, the Treaty did not come into effect until a defined period after the ratification or signing. In some cases, signing had the effect of ratification.
The date treaty came into effect in New Zealand was the later of either the date the Treaty came into force, or the date it came into effect in New Zealand.

For full and up-to-date details of MEAs and other treaties, conventions and agreements visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. If you find any information in this list that you believe is incorrect, please email webmaster@mfe.govt.nz to let us know.

Antarctica

The Antarctic Treaty 1959

Year entered into force: 1961
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 1 November 1960
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 1 November 1960
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 23 June 1961

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol)

Year entered into force: 1991
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 4 October 1991
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 22 December 1994
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 14 January 1998

Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources 1980 [CCAMLR]

Year entered into force: 1982
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 8 March 1982
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 8 March 1982
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 7 April 1982

Atmosphere and space

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 1985

Year entered into force: 1988
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 2 June 1987
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 2 June 1987
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 September 1988

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 1987 [Montreal Protocol]

Year entered into force: 1989
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 21 July 1988
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 21 July 1988
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 1 January 1989

London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, 1990

Year entered into force: 1992
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 1 October 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 1 October 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 10 August 1992

Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, 1992

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 4 June 1993
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 4 June 1993
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 14 June 1994

Montreal Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, 1997

Year entered into force: 1999
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 June 1999
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: Variable, according to provisions
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: Variable, according to provisions

Beijing Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, 1999

Year entered into force: 2002
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 8 June 2001
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: Variable, according to provisions
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: Variable, according to provisions

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [FCCC] 1992

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 16 September 1993
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 16 September 1993
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 21 March 1994

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies 1967

Year entered into force: 1967
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 May 1968
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 31 May 1968
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 31 May 1968

Protection of the marine environment and resources

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS] 1982

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 19 July 1996
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 18 August 1996
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 18 August 1996

International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties 1969

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 26 March 1975
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 26 March 1975
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 6 May 1975

International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (as amended) 1969

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 27 April 1976
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 26 July 1976
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 26 July 1976

Protocol [to SPREP] for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping 1986

Year entered into force: 1990
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 May 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 3 May 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 August 1990

Protocol [to SPREP] concerning Cooperation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region 1986

Year entered into force: 1990
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 May 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 3 May 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 August 1990

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil 1954 [OILPOL]

Year entered into force: 1958
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 1 June 1971
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 1 September 1971
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 1 September 1971

Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil 1962

Year entered into force: 1967
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 1 June 1971
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 1 September 1971
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 1 September 1971

Amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil 1969

Year entered into force: 1978
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 27 April 1976
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 27 April 1976
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 20 January 1978

Convention on the Continental Shelf 1958

Year entered into force: 1964
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 18 January 1965
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 17 February 1965
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 17 February 1965

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 [London Convention]

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 30 April 1975
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 30 April 1975
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 30 August 1975

Fishing

Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific 1989 [Wellington Convention]

Year entered into force: 1991
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 17 May 1991
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 17 May 1991
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 17 May 1991

Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna 1993

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 9 May 1994
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 9 May 1994
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 20 May 1994

Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks

Year entered into force: 1995
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 4 December 1995
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 18 April 2001
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 11 December 2001

Whaling

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1946

Year entered into force: 1948
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 2 August 1949 [withdrew 3 October 1968, then rejoined 15 June 1976]
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 15 June 1976
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 15 June 1976

Protocol to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1956

Year entered into force: 1959
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 21 June 1957
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 15 June 1976 [withdrew 30 June 1969, then rejoined 15 June 1976]
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 15 June 1976

Hazardous substances and chemicals

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal 1989

Year entered into force: 1992
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 20 December 1994
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 20 March 1995
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 20 March 1995

Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region (Waigani Convention)

Date of adoption: 16 September 1995
Date of New Zealand's ratification: 30 November 2000
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 21 October 2001

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 2000

Year entered into force: 11 September 2003
Date of New Zealand's signature: 24 May 2000
Date of New Zealand's ratification: 24 February 2005
Date New Zealand's ratification came into effect: 25 May 2005
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 25 May 2005

Conservation of natural resources

Statutes of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 1948

Year entered into force: 1948
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 6 May 1974
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 6 May 1974
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 6 May 1974

International Plant Protection Convention 1951

Year entered into force: 1952
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 16 September 1952
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 16 September 1952
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 16 September 1952

Amendments to the International Plant Protection Convention 1979

Year entered into force: 1991
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 10 April 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 10 April 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 4 April 1991

Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific Region 1956

Year entered into force: 1956
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 17 December 1975
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 17 December 1975
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 17 December 1975

Amendment to Article I(A) of the Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific Region 1967

Year entered into force: 1969
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 17 December 1975
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 17 December 1975
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 17 December 1975

Amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific Region 1979

Year entered into force: 1983
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 10 April 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 10 April 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 10 April 1990

Amendments to the Plant Protection Agreement for the South East Asia and Pacific Region 1983

Year entered into force: 1990
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 10 April 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 10 April 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 23 May 1990

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES] 1973

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 10 May 1989
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 8 August 1989
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 8 August 1989

Amendment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fauna (Art XI) 1979

Year entered into force: 1987
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 10 May 1989
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 8 August 1989
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 8 August 1989

UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 22 November 1984
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 22 February 1985
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 February 1985

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat 1971 [Ramsar Convention]

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s signature: 13 August 1976
Date New Zealand’s signature came into effect: 13 December 1976
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 February 1985

Protocol to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance… 1982

Year entered into force: 1986
Date of New Zealand’s signature: 9 February 1987
Date New Zealand’s signature came into effect: 9 February 1987
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 9 February 1987

Amendments to Articles 6 and 7 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially… 1987

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 7 July 1993
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 7 July 1993
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 1 May 1994

Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region 1986 [SPREP]

Year entered into force: 1990
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 May 1990
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 3 May 1990
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 22 August 1990

Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 [CBD]

Year entered into force: 1993
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 16 September 1993
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 16 September 1993
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 29 December 1993

International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (as amended) 1978

Year entered into force: 1978
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 3 November 1980
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 8 November 1981
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 8 November 1981

International Tropical Timber Agreement 1983

Year entered into force: 1985
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 5 August 1992
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 5 August 1992
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 5 August 1992

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

Year entered into force: 1994
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 7 September 2000
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 6 December 2000
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 6 December 2000

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

Year entered into force: 2001
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 19 June 2001
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 1 November 2001
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: Not in force

Arms control and nuclear pollution

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water 1963

Year entered into force: 1963
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 10 October 1963
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 10 October 1963
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 10 October 1963

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 1968

Year entered into force: 1970
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 10 September 1969
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 10 September 1969
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 5 March 1970

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction 1972

Year entered into force: 1975
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 13 December 1972
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 13 December 1972
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 26 March 1975

Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident 1986

Year entered into force: 1986
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 11 March 1987
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 11 April 1987
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 11 April 1987

Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency 1986

Year entered into force: 1987
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 11 March 1987
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 11 April 1987
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 11 April 1987

South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and Protocols 1985 [SPNFZ]

Year entered into force: 1986
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 13 November 1986
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 13 November 1986
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 11 December 1986

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other Hostile use of Environmental Modification Techniques 1976

Year entered into force: 1978
Date of New Zealand’s accession: 7 September 1984
Date New Zealand’s accession came into effect: 7 September 1984
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 7 September 1984

Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof 1971

Year entered into force: 1972
Date of New Zealand’s ratification: 24 February 1972
Date New Zealand’s ratification came into effect: 24 February 1972
Date treaty came into effect in New Zealand: 18 May 1972

Last updated: 17 September 2007