Inter-parliamentary organisations
Membership of inter-parliamentary organisations supports New Zealand’s contribution to debate on global issues, provides for engagement with the international parliamentary community, and the opportunity for parliamentarians to develop professionally. It also ensures that matters of importance to New Zealand and the Pacific region are included on the agenda of inter-parliamentary organisations.
The New Zealand Parliament is an active member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. It seeks to build an informed parliamentary community able to deepen the commitment to parliamentary democracy in the Commonwealth and to further co-operation amongst its parliaments and legislatures.
Founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association (adopting the name CPA in 1948), it is a body with branches in most of the legislatures (at both federal and state level) in the Commonwealth, representing approximately 16,000 parliamentarians.
The CPA pursues its objectives through annual general conferences, professional development seminars, workshops and exchanges, technical assistance to individual parliaments and the provision of specialist information.
Many CPA activities are regionally based and New Zealand is part of the Pacific Region which collaborates with the Australian Region in regular conferences and seminars. The New Zealand Parliament also provides the Secretariat for the CPA Pacific Region, with the regional secretary based in the Parliamentary Relations Secretariat of the Office of the Clerk.
The New Zealand Parliament also has an active CPA Group and a Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Group who meet regularly and facilitate different activities. .
Inter-Parliamentary Union
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), established in 1889, is an international organisation of parliaments of sovereign states. It currently has over 150 national parliaments as members.
As a focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue, the IPU works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy. It brings together parliaments and their members from around the globe on a regular basis, representing every political system and all the main political leanings in the world, constituting a unique platform for observing political opinions and trends around the world.
The New Zealand Parliament participates in twice yearly IPU assemblies, which are held in October and around Easter. The New Zealand IPU Group meets regularly and facilitates different activities.
The IPU is also constantly active in its work to promote democracy throughout the world, focusing on representative democracy; international peace and security; sustainable development; human rights and humanitarian law; women in politics; education, science and culture.
Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum
New Zealand was a founder country of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), which held its first annual meeting in 1992 in Tokyo. There are now 27 member countries.
The APPF acts to promote greater regional identification and cooperation, and supports other regional organisations including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group. Of particular focus for the APPF are issues of mutual interest such as trade and security in the region.
New Zealand attends annual meetings of the APPF which are held in January. The 16th meeting of the APPF was hosted by New Zealand and took place in Auckland in 2008.
