New Zealand will lead the way as one of the first countries to sign the landmark Arms Trade Treaty, adopted by the United Nations, which opens for signature in New York today.
The move has been applauded by international aid agency Oxfam, which says the treaty is the first of its kind providing legally-binding global rules to regulate the international flow of weapons, preventing them from escalating conflict and fuelling atrocities.
Oxfam has campaigned for a decade to achieve robust rules on international arms transfers.
Oxfam New Zealand executive director Barry Coates said the country's "commitment to achieving a powerful and effective" Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was to be commended.
"We particularly welcome the strong position New Zealand has taken regarding the scope and implementation of the treaty, as well as the support provided to Pacific states throughout the process," Mr Coates said.