Charles Chauvel, Labour List MP attended a presentation by visiting Costa Rican MP Edine von Herold, on the topic of "cooperating on disarmament for development", held in Wellington today.

The event was hosted by Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, a network dedicated to providing parliamentarians worldwide with up to date information on nuclear weapons policies and to helping parliamentarians become engaged in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament initiatives.

Costa Rica and New Zealand are small countries with similar economies (tourism and agriculture), democratic traditions, emphasis on universal education and involvement in the global promotion of human rights, disarmament and development.

Edine von Herold is at the fore-front of Costa Rican efforts to abolish nuclear weapons through a global treaty, promote disarmament in order to release resources for development, and prohibit other inhumane and indiscriminate weapons including depleted uranium weapons. In addition, von Herold is a member of PPND's global counciil.

During her visit, Von Herold also presented a letter to Prime Minister John Key from the Costa Rican president, Laura Chinchilla.

Chauvel, also a strong campaigner for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament has spoken on his personal devotion to world peace, speaking at last year’s Hiroshima Day commemorations in Wellington.