Winston Peters addresses the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2025. Photo \/ United Nations<\/p>\n
The United States<\/a>, which was responsible for 22% of the 2025 Budget, is the largest Member State yet to provide this funding – which was due in February.<\/p>\n Its contributions to the UN have previously made up a significant portion of international aid<\/a> globally. <\/p>\n The US has also cut its own humanitarian aid budget by more than 80%. <\/p>\n Foreign Minister Winston Peters<\/a> said New Zealand, along with the likes of Australia and Canada, consistently calls on all members of the UN to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time. <\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when the UN is facing a challenging funding environment, we reiterate this call and acknowledge that Secretary-General Guterres is considering a range of measures to deal with the immediate and pressing funding issues facing the UN.\u201d <\/p>\n Peters said necessary and meaningful UN reform is long overdue. <\/p>\n He said for some time, the UN has not been meeting the needs of its members, leaving it vulnerable to outright repudiation by some, and ambivalence by others. <\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that bold reforms are required to make the UN and its institutions more responsive, efficient, and effective.\u201d <\/p>\n Former Foreign Affairs Minister and diplomat Phil Goff<\/a> said when the world\u2019s wealthiest and most powerful country decides not to contribute to the UN and pay the money it owes, it creates a carte blanche for other countries to do likewise. <\/p>\n \u201cIt clearly sets a bad example because the United States is such a predominant economic and military power in the world,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Goff said by withholding support for the UN, the US could weaken the organisation and the work we expect it to do in confronting international crises<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThat is now having a direct and brutal impact on the poorest people in the world, the sickest people in the world, and those that have been made refugees by international and local conflicts.\u201d <\/p>\n Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said the instability is ironic as the world has never needed a more effective UN. <\/p>\nForeign Minister Winston Peters meets UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in September 2025. Photo \/ UN<\/p>\n
Former foreign minister Phil Goff. Photo \/ Cameron Pitney<\/p>\n