New Zealand should take the lead in negotiating an international convention against nuclear weapons, Labour says.
Foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff says there's cross-party support for a convention and New Zealand should seek out and work with like-minded countries.
"One thing is certain - if nobody starts such a process, there certainly won't be any such treaty," he says.
Mr Goff says parliament's foreign affairs select committee is supporting a petition from Peace Movement Aotearoa which asks New Zealand to "actively engage" with other countries.
"Officials were reluctant to support something which they thought didn't have much chance of success because major powers wouldn't participate in such negotiations, but the committee concluded otherwise," he said.
Labour's disarmament spokeswoman, Maryan Street, says New Zealand has a reputation for pushing boundaries.
"We are aware of the complexity and difficulty of negotiating a convention of this sort, but that doesn't mean we have to give up on the idea."
The convention would lead to a treaty prohibiting the development, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons.
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