THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	197
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

supporting and encouraging a broader relationship between hawaii and new zealand.

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the State to cultivate meaningful relationships with countries and subnational governments to collaborate on solutions to shared challenges; and

WHEREAS, New Zealand is a Pacific island nation renowned for its leadership in environmental sustainability, indigenous rights, and disaster resilience; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand share similar challenges and values, particularly concerning climate change, conservation, and indigenous cultural preservation; and

WHEREAS, New Zealand is a world leader in biosecurity, having developed and implemented policies to combat invasive species and prevent the introduction of new species into their unique ecosystem; and

WHEREAS, both Hawaii and New Zealand are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events; and

WHEREAS, New Zealand has pioneered innovative climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, including renewable energy initiatives, carbon reduction policies, and nature-based solutions that could serve as a model for Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, New Zealand has developed robust agricultural practices that emphasize sustainability and food security that could be beneficial to the State's local farming and food production industries; and

WHEREAS, both Hawaii and New Zealand place a strong emphasis on indigenous cultural heritage, with Hawaii's Native Hawaiian community and New Zealand's Maori population sharing a commitment to language preservation, cultural revitalization, and self-determination; and

WHEREAS, New Zealand has successfully implemented policies that integrate indigenous perspectives into governance, resource management, and education, providing a valuable framework that could inform Hawaii's efforts to empower Native Hawaiian voices and initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii and New Zealand are both active participants in Pacific regional organizations and initiatives that promote sustainable development, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange; and

WHEREAS, fostering a broader relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand would strengthen economic ties, enhance knowledge‑sharing, and promote collaboration on shared regional and global challenges; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body supports and encourages a broader relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

New Zealand; Partnership