A briefing to the minister from that year stated that the purpose of the portfolio was to "provide leadership of New Zealand’s efforts to achieve progress on disarmament and non-proliferation, both in support of the global public good that these entail and as an important contribution to [New Zealand's] national interest.

"[2] Under the Act, the Minister is the chair of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control.

They led the New Zealand Government's engagement on the New Agenda Coalition and the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament.

A separate disarmament and arms control portfolio was re-established in 2018 but no further appointment was made after the 2023 general election.

[3] From 2023, in lieu of the separate ministerial portfolio, government functions related to disarmament and arms control were delegated to the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Todd McClay.