Notícias

Updated: 4:00 AM Wednesday Jun 3, 2009

 

The report, which surveyed 144 countries, says New Zealand's rise to first is partly explained by the election of a National-Act coalition last year.

 

"The centre-right National Party has a strong popular mandate and a robust parliamentary majority by New Zealand's standards, putting the new Prime Minister, John Key, in a good position to push through his agenda."

 

It also says New Zealand received the best possible scores for the likelihood of violent demonstrations, the homicide rate and the level of respect for human rights.

 

The rise to first position is also related to the fall of Iceland from the top spot last year, which reflected the increase in violence following the banking collapse that engulfed its economy in September.

 

Professor Kevin Clements from the University of Otago, who was on the panel of experts for the index, told the Herald: "The index is a pretty good reflection of countries people want to live in, because on bicultural issues and a variety of factors we are scoring well.

 

"If you look at the top 20, they are all small nations based on strong welfare principles, all with good and relatively uncorrupt governance."

 

Professor Clements, who is director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, said the National Government faced a challenge in preserving New Zealand's top ranking.

 

"The question is whether the current Government will be as committed as the last ... a role for New Zealand as a conflict-resolving nation. I will be interested to see if we rank as high, but I can't imagine we'll slip far."

 

He said the greatest threat to New Zealand's peacefulness would be a more severe economic downturn or an increased sense of grievance toward Treaty of Waitangi issues.

 

Top 10 most peaceful nations

 

1. New Zealand 

 

2. Denmark 

 

2. Norway 

 

4. Iceland 

 

5. Austria 

 

6. Sweden 

 

7. Japan 

 

8. Canada 

 

9. Finland 

 

9. Slovenia

 

Ten least peaceful 

 

1. Iraq 

 

2. Afghanistan 

 

3. Somalia 

 

4. Israel 

 

5. Sudan 

 

6. Democratic Republic of the Congo 

 

7. Chad 

 

8. Pakistan 

 

9. Russia 

 

10. Zimbabwe

 

Resource: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10576106