Buzz from the Beehive
Was that wincing we heard from the Kremlin?
Probably. It would have been triggered by the news being communicated to Vladimir Putin that Nanaia Mahuta has announced a new tranche of 23 sanctions as part of New Zealand ongoing response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified assault on Ukraine.
The further sanctions target Russia’s military-industrial complex, paramilitary groups, and individuals involved in unlawfully transporting and deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. They also capture several further Belarusian financial institutions in response to the escalating support Belarus is providing in aid of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
The announcement was posted on the New Zealand government’s official website yesterday, after Point of Order had reported to readers on the latest goings-on in the Beehive.
The last item we recorded was also from our Minister of Foreign Affairs, who advised us that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to visit New Zealand next week for bilateral meetings and to attend the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This was followed by …
Latest from the Beehive
Further sanctions on Russian military support and Belarusian financial sector
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today announced a new tranche of 23 sanctions as part of New Zealand ongoing response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified assault on Ukraine.
Mahuta has become practised in the art of putting the frighteners up the Russians since the Government declared early in March last year it would be having legislation passed under urgency this week, to provide further, extensive sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
She explained then that as a small country which supports the multilateral system to uphold peace and security, New Zealand had historically supported sanctions through the United Nations system.
But Russia was using its veto as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to prevent any action, despite overwhelming opposition to Russia’s war. Our government therefore had decided that a targeted sanctions bill was required “to show our condemnation in the strongest possible terms”.
Since the passing of the Russia Sanctions Act, New Zealand has adopted more than 20 rounds of sanctions on over 1,500 individuals and entities, to keep in step with international sanctions efforts.
Mahuta announced the first tranche of sanctions under the Russia Sanctions Act on March 18 last year.
At midnight that night 13 individuals and 19 entities were added to a targeted sanctions list and the coverage of the travel ban was significantly widened.
This first tranche of sanctions designated an additional 364 political and military individuals to our travel ban list, and places sanctions on Russian Leader Vladimir Putin and the 12 members of his Security Council, one bank and 18 other entities.
- 9 March 2022
New Zealand passes historic Russia Sanctions Act
- 18 March 2022
First tranche of sanctions under the Russia Sanctions Act enacted
- 4 April 2022
New round of sanctions announced targeting Russian oligarchs
- 6 April 2022
New Zealand to apply trade sanctions in response to Russian atrocities
- 19 April 2022
Russian banks targeted under latest round of sanctions
- 2 May 2022
More political elites and defence entities sanctioned, and prohibitions extended
- 10 May 2022
New sanctions target disinformation and malicious cyber actors
- 16 May 2022
Belarusian leaders and defence entities targeted under latest round of sanctions
- 7 June 2022
Russian state companies sanctioned
- 4 July 2022
Imports of Russian gold banned
- 1 August 2022
Sanctions on Russian armed forces and weapons manufacturers
- 22 August 2022
Sanctions on Russian officials in occupied regions of Ukraine
- 27 September 2022
Sanctions on more of the Russian political elite
- 11 October 2022
New trade bans and sanctions on oligarchs and Russian officials
- 31 October 2022
New sanctions target Russian defence networks
- 8 November 2022
Further sanctions on the political and economic elites of Russia and Belarus
- 12 December 2022
Russian disinformation targeted by latest sanctions
- 14 December 2022
New sanctions on Iran over role in Ukraine
- 15 February 2023
New sanctions and travel bans on Iran
- 24 February 2023
New sanctions also mark one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- 31 March 2023
Further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian political and military figures
- And yesterday –
Further sanctions on Russian military support and Belarusian financial sector
The new tranche of 23 sanctions target Russia’s military-industrial complex, paramilitary groups, and individuals involved in unlawfully transporting and deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. They also capture several further Belarusian financial institutions in response to the escalating support Belarus is providing in aid of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
Three Russian individuals covered by these sanctions were recently involved in separating children from their families by facilitating deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, Mahuta said.
“These sanctions target 14 individuals and entities of the Russian military-industrial complex. They develop, manufacture or procure weapons, electronic components and technology (such as microelectronics and semiconductors) used by Russia to wage its aggressive war against Ukraine.
“Belarus is actively supporting Russia as it continues to breach international law and fracture international peace and security – the very thing Russia is obliged to protect and maintain as a Member of the United Nations Security Council.
“The Belarusian regime has confirmed Russian controlled nuclear weapons are being stationed on its territory which borders Ukraine. New Zealand strongly opposes the proliferation and sharing of nuclear weapons and sees this move as a direct threat to Ukraine, its neighbouring allies, and a further attempt to destabilise the region.
“The six Belarusian entities being sanctioned include Belarus banks and show New Zealand’s continued condemnation of Belarus’ actions,” Nanaia Mahuta said.
More information about sanctions, travel bans, and export controls against Russia and Belarus, as well as diplomatic, military and economic support to Ukraine, can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Point of Order 
The govt favor “non lethal” methods/ aid. Fair enough, but our defence here in NZ in case of an attack is unfortunately virtually non lethal as well. We could offer our future master (China?) a share of co governance as a peace offering
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Shame that Mahuta was not in power when the USA carried out their
illegal and unjustified assault on Iraq.
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“New Zealand strongly opposes the proliferation and sharing of nuclear weapons and sees this move as a direct threat to Ukraine, its neighbouring allies, and a further attempt to destabilise the region.“
I don’t remember NZ complaining about israel nuclear arming under the noise of the Americans.
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