KEY POINTS:
The Government is drawing up lists of New Zealand's most important cultural treasures so they can be protected in time of war.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is also Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, said yesterday a discussion document had been released and she wanted input from museums, libraries, iwi, archives, heritage organisations and scientific institutes.
Helen Clark said New Zealand signed the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict in 1954.
"An early issue we need to resolve is exactly what New Zealand cultural property will qualify for protection under this convention," she said.
"Cultural property must be of 'great importance' for New Zealand in order to be protected. This is a high threshold, and not all cultural property will qualify."
The Prime Minister said an indicative list had been compiled as a starting point, but a Maori list still needed to be worked on.
The convention also affects New Zealand forces operating overseas.
"New Zealand forces overseas already operate in broad accordance with the convention.
"Ratification will make this high standard of conduct by our military more visible," she said.
The discussion document is available on www.mch.govt.nz.
- NZPA
