As part of SGI’s Oceania O60, a peace symposium titled “Challenges to Peace in Turbulent Times” was hosted at the New Zealand Parliament. The event featured a thought-provoking dialogue between Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Prof. Kevin P. Clements, Director of the Toda Peace Institute as the world grapples with unprecedented social, economic, and political challenges, with conflicts raging from Ukraine, Middle East to Sudan. The dialogue revolved around the role of the United Nations and multilateral institutions in these turbulent times, as these bodies struggle to maintain peace amidst crises in the global hotspots. Both speakers passionately highlighted the global threat of climate change, stressing its disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities. Another key area of concern was New Zealand’s potential involvement in AUKUS, the trilateral security pact between the US, UK, and Australia. They advocated for the country’s independent foreign policy and firmly opposed military alignments that target specific nations, particularly China. Clark and Clements warned against the dangers of "politics of fear," which they argued breeds polarization and stifles the pursuit of constructive, peaceful visions for the future.
The Peace Symposium was organised on October 4, 2024 by SGI-NZ, Toda Peace Institute, New Zealand Institute of International Affairs Wellington Branch, New Zealand Centre for Global Studies, United Nations Association of New Zealand, Wellington Interfaith Council and hosted by Ingrid Leary, MP for Taieri.
Speakers:
Helen Clark (ONZ SSI PC) served three consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2008, before becoming the first woman to lead the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she served two terms as Administrator from 2009 to 2017. She was New Zealand's fifth-longest-serving prime minister, and the second woman to hold that office. Helen is a member of the Elder, a group of former world leaders who continue its call for bold decision-making on global challenges. She continues to be a passionate defender of multilateralism, and has played critical roles in support of nuclear disarmament, sustainable development and public health.
Kevin P. Clements is the Director of Toda Peace Institute, the Foundation Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies and former Director of the New Zealand National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS) at the University of Otago, New Zealand. For several years, he served as Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA), President of the IPRA Foundation and Secretary General for IPRA's Asia-Pacific region (APPRA). He was also Secretary General of International Alert, London; Lynch Professor and Director of Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) at George Mason University; and Head of the Peace Research Centre at Australian National University.
