Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa is calling on the NZ Symphony Orchestra conductor, Gemma New to cancel her engagement with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra next January.
PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says New should know that going to conduct the IPO can only be seen as endorsement of Israeli genocide in Gaza.
“The ISO plays concerts with Israeli soldiers in full uniform and puts them on YouTube.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLjucRUyd4Y
“These soldiers are in a military which is conducting mass starvation and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. There is no scope for neutrality, or nonsense slogans like ‘keep politics out of art.”
Minto says PSNA has written to New, but has received no reply.
“We’ve supplied her with details on the Israeli atrocities, even though she would have to be living under a rock to claim she doesn’t know about them.”
“But we have to give her the benefit of the doubt at the moment that she is not aware of the plea from Palestinian civil society for a Boycott, Divest and Sanction campaign against collaboration with Israel in all its forms.”
“Some leading artists, such as Kneecap, Lowkey and Roger Waters, are not only boycotting Israel, but they are actively campaigning to have governments sanction Israel, as the only effective means to achieve peace and justice for the Palestinian people.”
“No amounts of pleading, setting red lines or even recognition of Palestine are going to stop the Israeli war machine,” Minto says.
“We’ve noticed that some New on-line schedules don’t feature her Tel Aviv and Haifa performances. That might mean she has cancelled, or to be less charitable, she is trying to keep her engagements secret. However she is still listed to perform here ”
“We’d love to hear from her, that she’s taken the principled action which Lorde took in 2017, and refused to play Tel Aviv.”
“If not, she, and by extension the NZ Symphony Orchestra, will always be forever tainted by supporting the worst atrocity of the 21st Century.”
John Minto
Co-Chair PSNA
Gemma New’s support for a little light genocide music, taints the New Zealand orchestra and all its players.
I disagree. Invite many lawyers to the performance and kill ’em softly with his song.
She has just pulled OUT!!!!
It’s no longer listed on the website her agent runs, however, the listings are still up there on the website of the babykilling orchestra.
https://www.ipo.co.il/program/%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%97%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%A6%D7%97%D7%AA-%D7%92%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95-%D7%95%D7%90-2/?event_id=55409
https://www.ipo.co.il/program/%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%97%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%A6%D7%97%D7%AA-%D7%92%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95-%D7%95%D7%90-3/?event_id=55417
If she has indeed announced that she will not be giving aid and comfort to the terrorists, then great, and I congratulate her on taking the moral stance (please provide a link). Otherwise, there is no reason to think that things have changed.
Actually- I see this has been confirmed by PSNA in the following post, though I will certainly be checking back in January just in case.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2025/09/05/psna-congratulates-gemma-new-on-withdrawing-from-apartheid-israeli-concerts/
Obviously, I hope she has done the right thing for the right reason, but it is always better to do the right thing for the wrong reason than to do the wrong thing for any reason.
“….than to do the wrong thing for any reason.”
Like supporting Assad fascism and Russian imperialism.
After Netanyahu, Assad was the biggest murderer of Palestinians.
Yes, yes Pat, you support ISIS and its ‘Israeli’ masters. We know
Pat, in Mo you are provided an up close insight into the mindset Israel is delaying with from some in the region. Assad. Hamas. Ayatollahs. You and I actually agree that Netanyahu is rotten too. Tricky isn’t it? Unless Mo is Mossad?!! Mo?
`John – Practicing cancel culture is messy, and a double-edged…Telling/Controlling Artist decisions is a form of censorship.
Yes, yes Nathan, we know you’re real exercised about the cancel culture that happens to people like you and Timothy Jago, but it’s just going to keep happening if you don’t desist from your crimes.
Mohammed Khan – What is this “your crimes” about?
It’s just the shit that he makes up in his head while he masturbates about the show trials he wants to put on, ending with people hanging from cranes.
Trouble is once she is over there what sort of conduct might she appear to be emboldening? Her surname could be used as a false flag for the regime in Israel.
What happened to Lorde? Here are some fervent and interesting views that wound round and round, spiralling against each other to rise into the oppressive atmosphere.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/21-12-2017/dear-lorde-heres-why-were-urging-you-not-to-play-israel
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/if-lorde-is-serious-about-her-politics-she-shouldnt-boycott-israel-but-her-native-new-zealand
Greywarbler – Interesting points raised.
Maybe John Minto should be cancelled for defending Hamas’s Oct 7 attack less than 24 hours after it happened? That is unconscionable by any standard.
Give us the full quote and his total reasoning in that piece Sammy or you’re being hammy.
Are you saying he didn’t? I dont see him saying he didn’t? Because he did.
But that’s what I asked Sammy, I wanted to see it for myself. You were being a signpost. So it’s your responsibility as a wise, intelligent person who thinks they understand (using correct prnoun). We need to check on the electrical impulses representing real deeds, for veracity now the world is fuller of liars than ever And the skilful use of half-lies is sooo effective
I might use it myself sometime. So call me out too.
Nah, all humans agree with him. Sorry Sammy, you’re going to face the same justice as your fellow zionist babyrapers.
So you disagree with Greywarbler and agree with me that he did do that? Great. Thanks Mo. Have a wonderful day.
Sammy please just read one book of the Jewish academic, Ilan Pappe – then and only then perhaps you might understand a few things about the Israel Palestine issue.
He has never defended them. He has explained however how this came about. He has said numerous times that any one who has kidnapped any civilian should be taken to the ICC. Not however the soldiers that were taken.
Sammy – Yes…I do remember John stating that the NZ Government needs to support Hamas…the same Hamas that is anti-women, anti-Gay, anti-Western.
If you’re too thick to understand that John in explaining the history of what has happened in Gaza prior to October 7 is not defending any wrong actions they do, then perhaps you would be better off to crawl back under your rock and live in your own evidence-free bubble instead.
He did support them. And what’s stopping him condemning them now (along with Netanyahu) to put the matter beyond doubt? The Arab League has done so unequivocally.
Sammy has raped the truth repeatedly ,,, Israel style ,,, when he speaks of Hamas .
Have you recanted or apologized for your Israeli spawned ‘blood libel’ Sammy????
We know Sammy has wanked on about fictitious Hamas rapes ,,, that never happened on Oct 7th ,,, eh >>Sammy.
But has Sammy ever condemned the very real and systemic sexual assault / rape that Israeli jailers commit ,,, no question marks required,, we Know he has not.
Well B Fuckin Asleepsky let me give you this: I am happy to say let’s see in due course if the rape allegations against Hamas are true. However what is true is the UN issued a report about the sexual abuses carried out by Hamas on Oct 7. However what really reveals you for the dumbwit you are is that all you can hang your hat on is an accusation that it is somehow “blood libel” to accuse bloodthirsty go pro wearing murderers of babies and grandmas “rapists”.
Well B Fuckin Asleepsky let me give you this: I am happy to say let’s see in due course if the rape allegations against Hamas are true. However what is true is the UN issued a report about the sexual abuses carried out by Hamas on Oct 7. However what really reveals you for the dumbwit you are is that all you can hang your hat on is an accusation that it is somehow “blood libel” to accuse bloodthirsty go pro wearing murderers of babies and grandmas “rapists”.
Well B Fuckin Asleepsky let me give you this: I am happy to say let’s see in due course if the rape allegations against Hamas are true. However what is true is the UN issued a report about the sexual abuses carried out by Hamas on Oct 7. However what really reveals you for the dumbwit you are is that all you can hang your hat on is an accusation that it is somehow “blood libel” to accuse bloodthirsty go pro wearing murderers of babies and grandmas “rapists”.
Cry more, pedo. Humanity knows what monsters you are, and praises the heroes who fight you.