Legislation which will allow New Zealand to ratify the international Convention on Cluster Munitions passed its first reading in Parliament tonight.
The Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill forbids the use, acquisition, possession, retention and transfer of the weapons.
Cluster bombs are canisters dropped from aircraft that open above ground and release large numbers of small bomblets.
Many do not explode on impact and remain lethal for years, killing or maiming civilians.
Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Georgina te Heuheu is in charge of the bill and said the convention had the greatest potential to prevent the harm caused by the weapons.
"New Zealand was one of the leaders of the process to negotiate a convention to ban cluster munitions and provide assistance to victims of them," she said.
"We now need to get our own legislation in order."
