New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key Smiles After the General Election in Auckland.
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key smiles after the general election in Auckland November 26, 2011. Reuters/Stringer

New Zealand is seriously considering the option to join the fight against ISIS in the Middle East and considers staying away from the campaign as odd at time its major trading partners are already active in the mission. This was stated by Prime Minister John Key in an interview with TVNZ.

The Prime Minister said he is still considering the right kind of role that New Zealand can play in the fight against the terrorist group. He will be discussing its terms of reference at the new Government's first cabinet meeting on Monday, reported NZ Herald.

Air Support Likely

The Prime Minister said New Zealand may probably offer the support of its Air force for "airlift capacity" as a contribution to the coalition that is fighting the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria.

Mr. Key said that New Zealand had a slew of options including humanitarian action, which is already under way. The military options also include training people who would be there right on the front line.

Mr. John Key said staying away from the Middle East action will be naive as it would be tantamount to handing over the control of New Zealand's independent foreign policy to a few terrorists. He rejected the fear of reprisals, saying the inability to stand up to a terrorist group will be like allowing oneself to be intimidated and losing the space for exercising one's autonomy.

Terror Laws to Change

Mr. John Key also indicated the Cabinet meeting will also consider a few steps to crack down on people joining the extremist ranks. The punitive measures will include cancelling of passports for such persons and making the fighting for ISIS an outright criminal act. Key said New Zealand is also facing the threat of ISIS fighters coming to New Zealand to evade arrest in Australia.

Meanwhile, Acting Labour leader David Parker welcomed Mr. Key's offer to discuss changes in anti-terror laws. But he cautioned against pushing them as if in an emergency, reported Stuff.Co.Nz. Parker said there are sensitive issues involved in it. He said all inhuman elements like those who behead people, even if they are New Zealanders they need to be barred from entering the country and made to face the consequences.