The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a landmark treaty to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with the goal being their total elimination and making the planet nuclear weapons free. It was adopted on 7 July 2017, opened for signature on 20 September 2017, and will enter into force on 22 January 2021, which is only a week or two away and a very significant date. Being in New Zealand, perhaps the most progressive anti-nuclear nation on earth and a flag bearer of this idea which disrupted its ANZUS treaty with the US over this idea, it’s important to discuss and educate the world about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Therefore, it is important to celebrate this date.

The event would start with a discussion about NZ’s anti-nuclear history and the significance of it on the global stage. Then we would discuss the TPNW and learn about what has been done up to date, and what are the steps ahead and maybe some of the obstacles. Finally, we would have a look at two ( or one) cases that could further help the goal of fighting against nuclear weapons if managed well, or if failure occurs, could start a nuclear proliferation chain in the region. The cases are Iran and North Korea.

Panel members

Angela Woodward is Deputy Executive Director and is currently Acting Executive Director of VERTIC (the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre). She has worked on a wide range of issues at VERTIC including landmines, biological and chemical weapons law and verification, nuclear disarmament verification, and currently United Nations sanctions.

In addition to her VERTIC work, she is a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (APLN) and a Council Member at the Disarmament and Security Centre (New Zealand). She previously served on New Zealand’s Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC) (2011-2018) and was an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the School of Law, University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2014-2019). Angela was an adviser to the chair of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Verification in All its Aspects in 2006, and she was the Legal Coordinator for the EU Joint Action on the BTWC (2006/184/CFSP) (2006-2007). She has taught public international law and international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Angela holds an LLM in Public International Law (Merit) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, a BA (Honours) in Political Science and an LLB from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and a university diploma in international nuclear law (Très Bien) from the University of Montpellier 1/OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, France.

Professor David Capie is Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies and a Professor in International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests focus on conflict and security issues, particularly in the Asia–Pacific region, and New Zealand's foreign and defence policy. He has authored or co-authored three books and numerous articles and book chapters. His research has been supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the East-West Center and the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Marsden Fund. David has held visiting positions at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and at LUIS Guido Carli in Rome. He is currently regional co-chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP) and was a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum Experts and Eminent Persons Group from 2012 to 2019.

Sirous Amerian is a PhD candidate and Tutor at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. He is an analyst, who has worked in government, research, think-tank, and tertiary education sectors, with experience at both national and international levels and is also Chair of the NZIIA Palmerston North Branch.