New Zealand - International cooperation

A charter member of the UN, New Zealand joined the world organization on 24 October 1945. It participates in ESCAP and all the nonregional specialized agencies. In addition, New Zealand belongs to the Asian Development Bank, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth of Nations, OECD, South Pacific Commission, and South Pacific Forum, among other intergovernmental organizations. A member of the WTO and signatory to the Law of the Sea and the South Pacific Regional Trade and Cooperation Agreement, New Zealand also forms part of the ANZUS alliance with Australia and the United States; in 1986, however, following New Zealand's decision to ban US nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered ships from its ports, the United States renounced its ANZUS treaty commitments to New Zealand.