New Zealand military export control review to be led by former MBIE head David Smol
The review was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) after TVNZ reported an Air New Zealand unit was carrying out repair work on planes for the Royal Saudi Navy. The review will be led by David Smol, a former chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Air New Zealand later terminated the contract. MFAT cleared
itself of wrongdoing, determining the engines were not a controlled good.
However, RNZ later revealed MFAT had approved exports of
military goods to forces in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
despite concerns by the United Nations and rights groups that this equipment
may be fuelling Yemen's civil war.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which are part of a coalition that
is supporting Yemen's ousted president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, have carried out
extensive and, according to the UN, indiscriminate bombing of areas in Yemen
controlled by Houthi rebel forces. MFAT officials have stood by the export
permits.
In a statement, MFAT said the review "will cover the
legislative mandate for the export controls framework, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade's implementation of the framework, and all associated
policies, roles, delegations and business practice."
No timeline has been set.
The ministry added that Smol "brings considerable
experience and expertise to the review as a former senior public service
leader".
According to Terms of Reference posted on the ministry's
website, the review will include fieldwork involving the assessment of "a
sample of export permit applications and approvals".
The six "key business contacts" listed for the
review are made up of MFAT officials.
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