New Zealand committed to securing nuclear materials: PM

New Zealand is committed to helping prevent nuclear terrorism, Prime Minister John Key said Monday, ahead of his attendance at the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next week.

"The Nuclear Security Summit is an opportunity to address nuclear terrorism threats at the global level," Key said Monday.

"New Zealand is committed to the goal of securing vulnerable nuclear materials worldwide. This meeting will be a chance to press for greater international cooperation in this area."

New Zealand had been represented at the previous three Nuclear Security Summits, which were held in Washington in 2010, in Seoul in 2012 and the Hague in 2014.

"Since the first Nuclear Security Summit in 2010, New Zealand has contributed more than 4 million NZ dollars (2.7 million U.S. dollars) to international projects to strengthen nuclear security," said Key.

"We have also taken action to secure material in New Zealand through the Radiation Safety Act 2016, which was passed earlier this month, and provides new regulations for people who use or manage radioactive or nuclear material," he said.

"Even as a small country, we are not immune to the risks posed by nuclear terrorism."

Ahead of the summit, Key would meet with senior members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet on trade and economic issues and give a speech to the United States Chamber of Commerce.

"The U.S. is a key economic partner for New Zealand and I look forward to discussing ways of increasing trade between our two countries, including under the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said Key, who would be in Washington from March 29 to April 1. Endit