Palmerston North social justice group Thyme for Action has launched a petition calling on Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) to support an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and adopt an ethical procurement policy that excludes companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements.
The petition is supported by groups including Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine, the NZ Arab Association (Palmerston North), the Supreme Sikh Society NZ, Common Grace, and Unions Manawatu.
Why This Matters
As of the July 2025, over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with thousands more injured, missing, or buried under rubble and presumed dead. More than 50,000 of these casualties are children. Israel has also targeted civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, UN shelters, and entire neighbourhoods—while aid convoys and food distribution points are routinely bombed.
From 2 March to 18 May 2025, no humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza. Since then, only a trickle of food and supplies has been allowed in, under strict Israeli military control. Aid workers and civilians waiting for food have been shot at, bombed, and killed. Children have died from starvation, dehydration, and preventable disease. The UN warns the entire population is facing famine-like conditions.
“Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children. The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis. It is a crisis of humanity.”
— UN Secretary-General António Guterres, 6 Nov 2023
“The Court finds it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide… Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Genocide Convention.”
— International Court of Justice (ICJ), 26 Jan 2024
On 19 June 2025, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, released a report identifying dozens of companies—many multinational and Western-based—complicit in Israel’s ongoing military assault, illegal settlements, apartheid practices, and economic exploitation of occupied land.
These companies are not neutral suppliers, many of them are directly involved in or profiting from what Albanese defines as an “economy of genocide.”
Albanese’s report calls on governments, civil society, and institutions—including local councils—to end ties with complicit entities and take action against economic complicity.
This makes local procurement choices not just ethical, but potentially legal obligations under the Genocide Convention and international law. Palmerston North has a duty not to support companies contributing to internationally recognised crimes.
“The dismantling of this economy is a legal, political, and moral imperative.”
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur, 19 June 2025
The West Bank: Also Under Siege
While the world’s attention is on Gaza, systematic violence in the West Bank has escalated. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 500 Palestinians, including children. Armed settler attacks, mass arrests, and home demolitions continue with impunity. Entire communities face displacement.
Israel has accelerated the expansion of illegal settlements, in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) and international law.
Aotearoa’s Legal Commitments
New Zealand is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, Geneva Conventions, and other international treaties. These apply at all levels of government.
“New Zealand has legal duties under the Genocide Convention—not only to prevent genocide but also not to be complicit. That includes scrutinising our supply chains and trade practices.”
— Dr. Treasa Dunworth, University of Auckland
“Local authorities are not exempt from international obligations. Councils have procurement powers that can and should reflect our legal and ethical commitments.”
— Dr. Anna Hood, University of Auckland
Local Responsibility and Palmerston North’s Ethical Guidelines
Palmerston North is a proud multicultural city with strong values. Many in our community have whakapapa or family ties to the Arab world and are deeply affected by the unfolding crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. As a city, we have a strong history of standing for peace, social justice, and human rights. Our Council has existing ethical guidelines for operations and procurement, reflecting values ofintegrity, sustainability, inclusion, and social responsibility. It is essential that these values are upheld in the face of global injustice. We cannot claim to support human rights while turning away from what the ICJ describes as a plausible genocide. This is the moral test of our generation.
Across Aotearoa, local governments are stepping up. Councils in Wellington, Nelson, Dunedin, Whanganui, Christchurch, Far North, and Hutt City have passed motions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and affirming Palestinian human rights. These actions reflect both international legal norms and the evolving ethical expectations of communities nationwide. Palmerston North must not be silent.
“We are deeply concerned by the loss of civilian life and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We continue to call for international law to be upheld.”
— Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, 27 Oct 2023
What We’re Calling For
Thyme for Action urges PNCC to:
- Publicly support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
- Develop an ethical procurement policy that excludes companies complicit in illegal settlements and human rights violations.
Align Council policies with New Zealand’s international legal obligations and PNCC’s existing values of sustainability, peace, and inclusion.