Pursuant to section 11 of the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1968 ("the Act"), the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade declares that:
1. Representatives of the Commonwealth member countries, including New Zealand, will be attending the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting to be held in Christchurch from 25 November 2001 to 29 November 2001; and
2. In order to clarify privileges and immunities which may be enjoyed by those representatives and their official administrative and support staff attending the said meeting;
directs that:
(a) Every representative (including official delegates) of the Commonwealth member countries (other than of
New Zealand) shall be accorded the privileges and immunities conferred by or by virtue of Part I of the Act on a diplomatic agent as specified in Articles 29 to 37 (1) inclusive of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, set out in the First Schedule to the Act; and
(b) The members of the official administrative and support staff of any such representative shall be accorded the following privileges and immunities:
(i) Immunity from suit and legal process in respect of things done or omitted to be done by them in the course of the performance of their official duties;
(ii) exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received for services in respect of their official duties; and
(iii) exemption from taxes on the importation of goods for official use in New Zealand, that exemption to
be subject to compliance with such conditions as
the Minister of Customs may determine for the protection of the revenue.
Dated at Wellington this 6th day of November 2001.
PHILIP BRUCE GOFF, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Trade.