Why we suspect Chris Bishop will not be our next Minister of Foreign Affairs
Another day, another blank drawn when Point of Order checked the government’s official website.
As we have previously noted, caretaker ministers of the Crown have posted statements on that website to address only two issues since Election Day – the Rugby World Cup is one; the conflict in Israel and Palestine is the other.
A visit to the Scoop website for news from Parliament was no more productive.
The latest press statement posted there is the from the Māori Party and demands (among other things) the expulsions of Ambassadors from Israel and the United States. This was featured in our Buzz report yesterday.
In that statement, from unnamed party members, the Māori Party says:
Prime Minister Hipkins has been vocal in condemning HAMAS but silent on the war crimes of Israel as though Palestinian lives matter less.
The bombing of hospitals, homes and churches is not self-defence. The use of white phosphorous in densely populated areas is not self-defence. Collective punishment of civilians by cutting of food, water, and medical supplies is not self-defence.
The murder of 3,195 children is not self-defence.
There was no criticism of Hamas for killing and kidnapping Israeli civilians, who are being held hostage.
In contrast. the Hipkins government was even-handed when announcing the nub of its statement to the United Nations Security Council, which enjoined New Zealand with others in the international community calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza and the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors and safe areas to protect innocent civilians living in the Gaza strip.
“New Zealand is calling on all parties involved to act in accordance with international law, and also demonstrate basic humanity,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.
“The provision of essential support to innocent civilians living in Gaza, such as food, water, fuel, and shelter, as well as the facilitation of humanitarian aid is an obligation under the Fourth Geneva Convention that must be upheld immediately.
“We call on all parties to the conflict to commit to a humanitarian pause and for Israel and Egypt to use a cessation of hostilities to rapidly facilitate unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians living in Gaza.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand supports the right of Israel to defend itself against Hamas’s terrorist attacks,
“… but the way it does so matters. It must abide by international law, exercise restraint, and prioritise the protection of civilians.”
While the Māori Party and the government are at odds on this country’s policy on Israel and Palestine, differences have been exposed in the top ranks of the incoming National government.
The public learned this in a raft of media reports, including this from RNZ headed,,,
The latest press statement posted there is the from the Māori Party and demands (among other things) the expulsions of Ambassadors from Israel and the United States. This was featured in our Buzz report yesterday.
In that statement, from unnamed party members, the Māori Party says:
Prime Minister Hipkins has been vocal in condemning HAMAS but silent on the war crimes of Israel as though Palestinian lives matter less.
The bombing of hospitals, homes and churches is not self-defence. The use of white phosphorous in densely populated areas is not self-defence. Collective punishment of civilians by cutting of food, water, and medical supplies is not self-defence.
The murder of 3,195 children is not self-defence.
There was no criticism of Hamas for killing and kidnapping Israeli civilians, who are being held hostage.
In contrast. the Hipkins government was even-handed when announcing the nub of its statement to the United Nations Security Council, which enjoined New Zealand with others in the international community calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza and the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors and safe areas to protect innocent civilians living in the Gaza strip.
“New Zealand is calling on all parties involved to act in accordance with international law, and also demonstrate basic humanity,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.
“The provision of essential support to innocent civilians living in Gaza, such as food, water, fuel, and shelter, as well as the facilitation of humanitarian aid is an obligation under the Fourth Geneva Convention that must be upheld immediately.
“We call on all parties to the conflict to commit to a humanitarian pause and for Israel and Egypt to use a cessation of hostilities to rapidly facilitate unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians living in Gaza.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand supports the right of Israel to defend itself against Hamas’s terrorist attacks,
“… but the way it does so matters. It must abide by international law, exercise restraint, and prioritise the protection of civilians.”
While the Māori Party and the government are at odds on this country’s policy on Israel and Palestine, differences have been exposed in the top ranks of the incoming National government.
The public learned this in a raft of media reports, including this from RNZ headed,,,
Chris Bishop spoken to by Christopher Luxon on ‘strongly worded’ email comparing Hamas attack to Holocaust
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has spoken to MP Chris Bishop over a strongly worded email the MP sent about the Gaza conflict.
In the email, Bishop – ranked third in the National Party caucus, behind Luxon and Nicola Willis – wrote about the horrific actions of Hamas, and said such barbarity had not been seen since the Holocaust.
The email was widely shared on social media.
Luxon told Morning Report the language used was “strong” and it showed there were high emotions on both sides.
“Yeah, look, I spoke to him, I thought is was strong language, it’s also representative of strong emotions on all sides of this debate.
“I acknowledge for our Jewish and Muslim communities it’s incredibly difficult time … New Zealand has been consistent in condemning the attacks, in supporting the right of Israel to defend itself, and humanitarian needs [being] a priority.
“It is a tragic set of circumstances that is playing out and that is the way we need to move through it.”
National has been consulted on what the caretaker Hipkins government has been doing and saying –
25 OCTOBER 2023
In a statement to the United Nations Security Council this morning, New Zealand has joined others in the international community calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza and the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors and safe areas to protect innocent civilians living in the Gaza strip.
17 OCTOBER 2023
The New Zealand Government is providing $5 million in funding following appeals to address urgent humanitarian needs in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the RNZ report:
Luxon supported New Zealand’s recent vote at the United Nations on the truce – despite being the only Five Eyes partner who voted in favour of the resolution.
Luxon would not confirm whether he would go further and call for a ceasefire.
“We condemn Hamas attacks on Israel [as] barbaric… and unprovoked. We do support Israel’s right to defend itself but expect all parties to act in accordance with international law and demonstrate basic humanity.”
He said that, in reality, parties on the ground “don’t want a ceasefire at the moment” – but it wasn’t for him to determine whether Israel was acting under international law or whether its response was collective punishment.
“Those are determinations for [the International Criminal Court] and others to make, but all we’re saying is we expect all parties to be acting in accordance with international law and to demonstrate basic humanity. But we do also support Israel’s right to defend itself and Hamas’ attacks were unacceptable, barbaric and terrorist acts.
“We do believe that starting the Middle East peace process is what’s needed in this region, and no military action will secure that.
“What we have called for is a humanitarian truce so that we can get assistance and aid in to help innocent civilians, that’s exactly what we need right now.”
The Spinoff gives us a bit more about the language used by Chris Bishop, which Christopher Luxon has called “strong”.
The email from Chris Bishop has been circulating on social media in recent days. In it, he compares the “barbarity” of Hamas’s attacks on Israel to the holocaust. “After 1945 the world said ‘never again’, well – now it is happening again,” wrote Bishop.
But if Bishop’s language is strong – well, how should we describe other language in the exchange of opinions?
On Newshub, Luxon added: “He’s responding to a private email. My conversation with him was like, ‘I think you’ve got to be a bit more careful about that language’.”
May we suppose Chris Bishop will find himself in a portfolio unrelated to diplomacy.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
Luxon would not confirm whether he would go further and call for a ceasefire.
“We condemn Hamas attacks on Israel [as] barbaric… and unprovoked. We do support Israel’s right to defend itself but expect all parties to act in accordance with international law and demonstrate basic humanity.”
He said that, in reality, parties on the ground “don’t want a ceasefire at the moment” – but it wasn’t for him to determine whether Israel was acting under international law or whether its response was collective punishment.
“Those are determinations for [the International Criminal Court] and others to make, but all we’re saying is we expect all parties to be acting in accordance with international law and to demonstrate basic humanity. But we do also support Israel’s right to defend itself and Hamas’ attacks were unacceptable, barbaric and terrorist acts.
“We do believe that starting the Middle East peace process is what’s needed in this region, and no military action will secure that.
“What we have called for is a humanitarian truce so that we can get assistance and aid in to help innocent civilians, that’s exactly what we need right now.”
The Spinoff gives us a bit more about the language used by Chris Bishop, which Christopher Luxon has called “strong”.
The email from Chris Bishop has been circulating on social media in recent days. In it, he compares the “barbarity” of Hamas’s attacks on Israel to the holocaust. “After 1945 the world said ‘never again’, well – now it is happening again,” wrote Bishop.
But if Bishop’s language is strong – well, how should we describe other language in the exchange of opinions?
On Newshub, Luxon added: “He’s responding to a private email. My conversation with him was like, ‘I think you’ve got to be a bit more careful about that language’.”
May we suppose Chris Bishop will find himself in a portfolio unrelated to diplomacy.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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