A PoO reader – riled by the Government’s decision not to recognise the state of Palestine – sent messages to the Prime Minister, to Foreign Minister Winston Peters and to his local MP.
He reckons they need to know that voters strongly disagree with their position.
If we don’t speak up, they believe we don’t care,” he says.
Here’s what he told the PM:
Prime Minister – I am appalled at your statement that “we’re friends with both” after your government’s decision not to recognise a Palestine state.
How can you be friends with Israel, a state that has been found by the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry to have committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza?
How can you be friends with a country led by a man who is subject to an arrest warrant for war crimes by the International Criminal Court of Justice?
How can you pretend that New Zealand’s conscience about the abominable treatment of Palestinians by Israel in Gaza is served by another $10 million worth of aid when you know that Israel consistently blocks delivery of aid to those who so desperately need it.
And you profess to be a Christian.
I am ashamed today to be a New Zealander.
PoO is complying with his request for anonymity.
He received this reply:
Thank you for your email to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon.
Hamas is a brutal terrorist organisation that remains in control of some Palestinian territory and continues to hold hostages. We cannot recognise a state where terrorists play a role in its government.
It remains New Zealand’s view that recognition of Palestinian statehood is a question of “when, not if”. What we’ve announced is that the time for New Zealand to recognise is not now, when Hamas remains in control.
Our decision is not an endorsement of Israel’s position. We oppose any actions by Israel to undermine the two-state solution and continue to call on the Israeli Government to comply with international law, especially as they relate to the safe, rapid, and unimpeded flow of aid into Gaza.
New Zealand is neither pro-Palestine nor pro-Israel, we’re pro-Peace. We have consistently and repeatedly called for a ceasefire. That’s the only way to end this suffering. We want to see the parties get around the table and back to diplomacy.
Thank you once again for taking the time to write; it is appreciated.
While our PoO reader says voters strongly disagree with the Government’s position, just how strong is that disagreement?.
One measure of public support for recognising Palestine as a state was a recent RNZ-Reid Research poll.
The results from the 1,000 respondents were:
- 42.5% supported recognition.
- 22.1% opposed recognition.
- 35.4% said they did not know.
Support
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Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the United Nations that New Zealand would not recognise Palestinian statehood. More >>
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Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand has taken a moral stance in not recognising a Palestinian state after considering all aspects of the issue. More >>
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The Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ) welcomes Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ announcement at the United Nations General Assembly that New Zealand will not prematurely recognise a Palestinian state. More >>
NZ Jewish Council Responds To Government’s Statement Regarding Recognition Of Palestine
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The Council supports the call for aid and an end to the war and for recognition when the time is right and requirements for statehood are met. More >>
Coalition Of Ministers Congratulates NZ Decision
The decision today shows that our country is not counted among the gutless nations who are not prepared to counter terrorism. More >>
Opposition
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Monday, 29 September 2025, 8:47 pm | RNZ
Analysis: Many will be outraged over the government’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, as the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground in Gaza worsens. More >>
Support For The Recognition Of A Palestinian State
Monday, 29 September 2025, 3:12 pm | Methodist Church of New Zealand
For us as Methodist Christians, the delay in recognising Palestine as a state is a failure to embody the prophetic witness the Church is called to bear—standing with the marginalised and affirming the God-given humanity of all peoples. More >>
Maritime Union Backs Global Sumud Flotilla And Recognition Of Palestine
MUNZ demands the New Zealand Government formally recognises the State of Palestine and uses its voice to prevent further bloodshed and oppression. More >>
Oxfam Reacts To NZ Government’s Decision Not To Recognise Palestinian Statehood
Monday, 29 September 2025, 1:10 pm | Oxfam Aotearoa
Oxfam insists that concrete steps must be taken toward an immediate and permanent ceasefire so that aid can freely flow into Gaza and to ensure the release of the hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. More >>
NZ Recognising Israel But Not Palestine With Defined Borders?
Sunday, 28 September 2025, 9:05 pm | Peter Wakeman – Candidate
New Zealand appears to act like a US puppet when it comes to supposedly NZ having an independent foreign policy. More >>
Sunday, 28 September 2025, 6:54 pm | RNZ
A Palestinian man is angry at New Zealand’s failure to recognise Palestine as a state. More >>
Palestine Forum Of New Zealand Condemns Government’s Refusal To Recognize Palestinian Statehood
Sunday, 28 September 2025, 2:28 pm | Palestine Forum of New Zealand
By refusing to act, New Zealand undermines its own claim to an independent foreign policy rooted in justice and international law. More >>
Profound Failure Of Leadership By NZ Govt, At Home And Abroad, Says Justice For Palestine
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 2:45 pm | Justice for Palestine
New Zealand’s announcement at the UN General Assembly today that it would not be recognising the state of Palestine highlights the profound failure of leadership by this Government, both at home and abroad… More >>
Statement From Alternative Jewish Voices
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 1:59 pm | Alternative Jewish Voices
Rights, law, diplomacy, fact and conscience all point in the same direction: Palestine must be free and self-determining. More >>
NZ Jews Say The Government Is Rewarding Genocide
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 1:57 pm | Dayenu
At this rate, New Zealand will go down in history as one of the few countries that continues to aide and abet this genocide. This government has made this our country’s legacy, says Asher Wilson-Goldman, spokesperson for Dayenu. More >>
Peters Rewards Israel For Genocide
Saturday, 27 September 2025, 1:54 pm | Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
“New Zealand has been appeasing Israel for 77 years, and Winston Peters continues New Zealand on the same well-worn path, based on anti-Palestinian racism and mis-identified New Zealand self-interest,” PSNA Co-chair Maher Nazzal says. More >>
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog HERE. - where this article was sourced.
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