Dr David Robie: NZ left parties condemn Luxon govt on lack of humanity, ‘complicity’ over Gaza genocide
Four opposition party spokespeople today condemned the New Zealand coalition government’s Palestine policies and called on voters to oust it and elect parties pledging “humanitarian” policies.
David Robie also blogs at Café Pacific
From David’s Asia Pacific Report
The spokespeople accused the Christopher Luxon-led government of turning a “blind eye to a full-blown genocide” and being complicit in crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the 152nd consecutive week of pro-Palestine protests in Te Komititanga Square in downtown Auckland, speakers for the fledgling Free Palestine Party, Green Party, Labour Party, Te Pāti Māori and an independent candidate for Māngere, Dr Timoti Te Moke, delivered stinging criticisms of the government to loud cheers and cries of “shame”.
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Organisers invited nine political parties and independent candidates to take part in today’s rally and forum. Only five agreed. But FPP and TPM were unable to attend and sent statements.
“As a party we have marched beside and for our Palestinian whānau, we have pleaded with our government to do more, do better — speeches, written questions, letters,” Te Pāti Māori coleader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said in a statement presented by Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s Leeann Wahanui-Peters.
“We called for ceasefires, to sanction Israel, expel the Israeli ambassador, recognise the State of Palestine, pushed for humanitarian pathways, called to end to NZ participation in military occupation.
“But this is no big feat. This should’ve been the norm in the face of such atrocity.”
Ngarewa-Packer’s statement said: “We have watched as the people of Palestine have lost their homes, their land, their whānau — grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, children — whole generations.
‘Experiencing loss after loss’
“Injuries unseen, unprecedented. No food, food blocked. They pick up, rebuild, and are moved again. Experiencing loss after loss.
“We have heard the misleading narratives, we have heard the ceasefires where the fires have not ceased, the ‘war’ references as a blind eye gets turned to a full-blown genocide and not only have we had to witness this overseas, but our own government . . . has refused to take any meaningful action and will always sit complicit in this genocide.
“We as Māori understand too well the effects of colonisation, the shared experience of indigenous across the world and stand in solidarity with our Palestinian whanau.
“We understand the historical context that creates environments where greed becomes more important than lives.”
The statement said the party’s 2026 foreign affairs policy committed Aotearoa to an “independent, militarily neutral foreign policy grounded in peace, mana motuhake, indigenous solidarity and international human rights”.
It also “explicitly commits us to sanctioning states involved in illegal wars and cutting diplomatic relations with governments actively committing war crimes”.
Wahanui-Peters read out a list of 10 commitments, including recognising Palestine and expelling the Israeli ambassador.
‘Free Palestine’ an election issue
PSNA’s Anna Lee read a statement on behalf of the FFP, pointing out that the party “isn’t for voting” but to raise “genocide as an election issue”.
It will provide information over what is going on in Palestine.
The party is committed to contesting parliamentary elections as an independent party and building a mass democratic movement for justice in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
“We aim to change public opinion and put sustained parliamentary pressure on the New Zealand government to uphold its obligations under international law with respect to Palestine.”
“When [voters] go to the ballot box look for the parties that have made an ethical stand and support for the Palestinians and against the genocide that is happening,” Lee said. “So remember, this is a party, that we do not vote for.”
The Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March reminded the Palestine supporters of his party’s long solidarity with the free Palestinian movement.
“From years ago when [co-leader] Marama Davidson joined the Freedom Flotilla towards Gaza, we have taken action in Parliament against the genocide.
Time to sanction Israel
“This is why as we are heading to the election it is very clear. It is time to sanction Israel and it is time to expel the Israeli ambassador.” Loud cheers greeted this statement.
“Anyone who comes from a Muslim majority country will know that when you are applying for a visa, you are more likely to face delays, discrimination and scrutiny on national security grounds.
“Yet people who come from Israel and from the IDF are more likely to have been involved in war crimes, and this has not been rightfully applied
“I myself have called within the Green Party throughout this term to make sure that we have humanitarian visas for Palestinians to be reunited with their families. And this needs to be part of a broader package of humanitarian response to genocide of free passage.”
Phil Twyford, Labour Party MP for Te Atātu, also gave a strong statement on his party’s stance supporting Palestine, saying that foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters would present “official” policy at Parliament this week.
He said the activist movement supporting Palestine liberation had done an “amazing job” over the last few years, “keeping the issue alive – not just here, but all over New Zealand.
Twyford also acknowledged Menéndez March and the Green Party for “leading on this issue” in Parliament.
‘We acted with courage’
“Our country has done best over the years when we have acted with courage and on principle – and we have done it on multiple occasions. The New Zealand government responded to activists on the anti-apartheid struggle.
“It was a Labour government that responded to the peace movement, which demanded that we go nuclear free. And we did. We led the world.
“It was Helen Clark government that refused to go along with the Bush-Blair invasion of Iraq. It was the right thing to do.”
Dr Timoci Te Moke, an independent candidate for Māngere, said: “The reason why I have such passion for the people of Palestine is because what’s happening to them happened to my people.
“The destruction of their people happened to my people. The colonisation of the Palestinians happened to my people.”
About the future with the “needed” change of government, Dr Te Moke said: “We need to recognise Palestine and we need to have a Palestinian embassy here. And internationally, we need to kick out [Foreign Minister] Winston Peters and put someone in who will recognise Palestine.”
Twice arrested
During question time with “open mic”, a man spoke who said he had just come from the United Kingdom and he had been twice arrested for his support for the Palestine Action group that had been unjustly proscribed by the British government, and has also just been banned by the US government as well.
The man, Jeremy Watson, said his case was due to come up in court in October “along with 500 other people — they can’t just put us all in jail”.
He urged the New Zealand activists today to carry on their protests. He warned against state efforts, such as in the UK and United States, to “silence speaking out for Palestine” and protect Israel’s genocide.
He said it was pensioners, retired people, invalids and other vulnerable people who were being unjustly arrested for supporting Palestine Action.
Several speakers said how vital it was to hold an incoming new government to their Palestine promises.
The New Zealand general election is on November 7.
What Te Pati Maori Party pledges:
1. Recognise Palestine: Aotearoa should formally recognise the State of Palestine and support Palestinian self-determination and full international recognition.
2. Sanction Israel: Impose meaningful sanctions against the Israeli state and those responsible for war crimes, occupation, illegal settlements and the destruction of Gaza.
3. End military complicity: No New Zealand participation in, procurement from, intelligence support for, or military cooperation that contributes to Israel’s war against Palestinians. We oppose purchasing Israeli weapons and military technology while Palestinians are being killed with the same military-industrial system.
4. Use diplomatic consequences: Where a government is actively committing war crimes, our policy allows for diplomatic relations to be severed. We have called for the Israeli Ambassador to be expelled or recalled and for New Zealand to withdraw diplomatic legitimacy from Israel’s conduct.
5. Demand an end to the siege of Gaza: Open the crossings. Allow unrestricted humanitarian assistance, food, water, medicine, fuel and reconstruction materials into Gaza. Starvation cannot be used as a weapon of war.
6. Demand a real and permanent ceasefire: Not temporary pauses while bombardment, blockade, displacement and occupation continue. There must be an enduring cessation of violence accompanied by accountability and Palestinian freedom.
7. Uphold international law and accountability: Support international investigations and accountability through institutions, including the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice. War crimes must have consequences regardless of which country commits them.
8. End economic support for occupation and apartheid: Support divestment and economic measures against institutions, companies and products directly sustaining illegal settlements, occupation or military violence against Palestinians.
9. Protect humanitarian workers and peaceful solidarity: Aotearoa must defend humanitarian workers, including New Zealanders attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, and unequivocally protect peaceful Palestinian solidarity and protest.
10. Confront antisemitism and Islamophobia without silencing Palestine: We condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism. Opposition to the actions of the Israeli Government, Zionism, occupation or genocide must not be falsely characterised as hatred of Jewish people.
Dr David Robie: NZ left parties condemn Luxon govt on lack of humanity, ‘complicity’ over Gaza genocide
By Dr. David Robie
29 August 2026
Correction: Some NZ left parties condemn Luxon govt on lack of humanity, ‘complicity’ over Gaza genocide, One Centrist Party promised that their foreign affairs spokesperson would present “official” policy in Parliament.
One day everyone will have been against this;
On that day, the Labour Party will truthfully claim that a token Labour Party MP, once attended a rally in Auckland and gave a strong statement on his party’s stance supporting Palestine, saying that Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson would present “official” policy in parliament.
That the Labour Party’s “official” policy was never presented in parliament will be forgotten.
Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins has stated that Labour Party policy is that it is not a genocide.
In my opinion; While NZ Labour Party policy is genocide denial, no Labour Party MP should not be allowed be act as a fig leaf for the Labour Party so that one day, after the fact, the Labour Party can rewrite the history books to claim that the New Zealand Labour Party had condemned the genocide in Gaza when it was occurring.
The exception:
Any Labour Party MP with the courage and honestly to acknowledge and condemn their party’s policy of genocide denial, should be given the mic.
“….foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters would present “official” policy at Parliament this week.”
David Robie – 29 August 2026
Maybe tomorrow?
Pat O’Dea started making “genocide” allegations (in comments on this blog) against Israel in 2023 immediately after Oct 7 and before Israel had made any meaningful move in Gaza. I think that tells us all we need to know about where Pat O’Dea is coming from.
Yes, that he knows how evil satanic beasts like you zionists are.
Voice of Reason says:
“Pat O’Dea started making “genocide” allegations (in comments on this blog) against Israel in 2023 immediately after Oct 7….”
Is this your worst accusation against me TRP?
Pretty weak.
I don’t need to defend myself from your accusation that I called this genocide immediately after October 7, I make no apology for it.
Because, you are absolutely right TRP, I did make this call early on in the genocide, But unlike you, who conceals their identity behind a pseudonym, I stand behind my track record,and put my name and reputation beside it.
In determining a genocide is being committed, there are two main elements, the destruction of a people in whole or in part, and intent, or in legalese, Mens Rea, Latin for guilty mind..
The Israelis clear intent to commit genocide in Gaza was revealed on October 7
Which I stated as fact in these columns and in the columns of The Labour Party aligned website The Standard,
Following the kidnapping and killing of Israeli civilians and soldiers on October 7,.
No negotiations for the return of the hostages were entered into. No attempt was even made.
Instead, of attempting to negotiate with Hamas for the return of the hostages – the IDF, without warning began indiscriminately carpet bombing Gaza City, causing massive civilian casualties and destruction, and quite possibly killing some of the hostages in the process, making it clear to me that from the beginning, the return of the hostages was not a priority for the Netanyahu government, The carpet bombing of Gaza City revealed a clear intent to commit indiscriminate mass murder of Gazans, the intent to commit genocide was being enacted.from day 1,
On Day 2, October 8, 2023, Israel formally declared a state of war, and the aerial bombardment of Gaza City significantly intensified, destroying whole residential blocks, civilian infrastructure, and multi-story buildings in the Capital.
The furious and indiscriminate aerial bombardment of Gaza City that began on October 7 continued throughout October October 2023 recorded the greatest number of daily deaths of Palestinian civilians during the genocide so far, not matched since.
On October 24, 2023. a record 700 civilian deaths from Israeli air strikes were reported to the Gaza Health Ministry. Thousands of victims, from the early indiscriminate carpet bombing of Gaza City still remain uncounted under the rubble of the capital.
Two days after October 7, on October 9, 2023, the clear intention of the Israelis to commit genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, was further confirmed for me by the Israeli Minister of defence Youv Galant who bluntly stated;
“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.”
This above statement and many other genocidal statements like it, from Israeli government ministers and military leaders were later cited in the warrants issued for the arrest of Galant and Netanyahu by the ICC for committing war crimes and cited by South Africa in the UN World Court for committing genocide.
Mass public protests and vigils in Israel led by families of the hostages pressured the Netanyahu government to agree.to a cease fira and a prisoner for hostage exchange with Hamas..
On November 25, 2023, over the objection of far right Knesset MPs, the first hostage exchange occurred, Israel released 39 Palestinian women and childen from its prisons, and Hamas, in a scripted hand over ceremony which was posted online, released 24 hostages, 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino, into the custody of the Red Cross, the Red Cross tranferred the freed hostages, via Eygpt to Israel.
Some of the hostages on being released in the prisoner exchange reported that they were more afraid of being killed in Israeli air strikes than being harmed by their captors.
The first ceasefire and hostage exchange ended on December 1, 2023. when Israel refused to accept further prisoner exchange offers and resumed the blockade of all fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza strip in breach of the ceasefire agreement. The Israelis accused Hamas of firing a rocket into Israel during the ceasefire as an excuse to end the ceasefire, an accusation which Hamas denied. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange were a huge diplomatic and propaganda coup for Hamas and a humiliation for Israel.
After leveling residential homes and hi-rise buildings, and destroying water and sewerage infrastructure, and bombing hospitals, schools universities, mosques and churches, and killing over 70 thousand Palestinians, the Israelis in the grip of a genocidal mania want to force the Palestinian population out of Gaza using starvation, thirst, disease, and exposure to the elements.
Already Israeli Ground forces have forced the Palestinian civilian population into an area only 30% of the original territory, concentrating almost two million people into makeshift tents, without facilities for water or sewerage, and continuing sporadic Israeli air strikes and assassinations despite the so called ceasefire.
Yes I called the genocide early, I maintain that the genocide still continues, Whereas the Zionist troll TRP, Voice Of Reason, Te Reo Putake, under his various aliases who accuses me of calling the genocide too early, denies that genocide is being committed at all.
It’s not the Free Palestine Party. It is the “From the River to the Sea Free Palestine Party”. “From the River to the Sea” is a genocidal chant calling for the ethnic cleansing of Jews. Appalling and hypocritical.
It is undeniable October 7 was plainly an act with genocidal intent against Jews and while many (me included) do not like Netanyahu or his tactics in Gaza, they fall well short of “genocide”. “Genocide” is a legal term you and others with an agenda have misappropriated because you get your rocks off diminishing the victims of the greatest actual genocide in that way. And you don’t care about the insult to victims of other actual genocides like Bosnia and Rwanda. You are too excited about trying to harm Jews to stop and show even a moment of thoughtfulness, reasonableness, balance or sensitivity. Even Martyn Bradbury is more intellectually honest than you when he says it “may” “technically” be a genocide. It isn’t. But at least he is not so arrogant to make such a ridiculous allegation with the certainty you and those of your ilk do.
Lastly, it is beyond pretentious for you to refer to yourself as “Dr”.
October 7 was a prison break. The only innocents who died on October 7 were the civilians and heroic freedom fighters of Palestine. Why do you rape little kids, Schlomo?
….foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters would present “official” policy at Parliament this week.”
David Robie – 29 August 2026
Today is the last parliamentary sitting day of the week, if Vanushi Walters is to present “official” policy at Parliament this week, it will be today.
https://videos.parliament.nz/
Pat O’Dea started making “genocide” allegations (in comments on this blog) against Israel in 2023 immediately after Oct 7 and before Israel had made any meaningful move in Gaza. I think that tells us all we need to know about where Pat O’Dea is coming from.
No one from TOP then? Very telling.
Andy says:
“No one from TOP then? Very telling.”
The genocide in Gaza is the moral litmus test of our time, it sorts the monsters from the humanitarians.
What happens to gay people, feminist women and Christian people in Palestine.? Why do we have Hamas supporters in New Zealand .?
Pretty difficult to run a democratic government under an occupation. Maybe learn a little bit about history?
Democratic or not we know what sort of people they are. They throw gays off roofs. They murder the elderly and babies. They rape and kill the innocent. Not one off incidents of bad eggs in their ranks. Hamas policy which they proudly filmed on go pros and posted.
Acknowledging genocide is being committed, legally binds a government to do something about it.
Denying genocide commits a government, or a potential government, to nothing.
My hope is that Vanushi Walters presentation of “official” Labour Party policy at Parliament this week. doesn’t follow the British Labour Party in continuing to deny the genocide in Gaza.
Burnham rejects MPs’ call to recognise Gaza genocide
Britain’s new government rejects calls from 80 MPs and peers to recognise genocide in Gaza and impose sweeping sanctions on Israel.
https://www.newarab.com/news/burnham-rejects-mps-call-recognise-gaza-genocide?
….The new British government has rejected calls from dozens of parliamentarians to recognise Israel’s war on Gaza as genocide and impose sanctions on the country.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government, which took office last Monday, is facing pressure to match its stated commitment to international law with concrete action by recognising what MPs describe as Israel’s genocide against Palestinians and holding Israeli leaders accountable.
Last week, 80 members of the House of Commons and House of Lords sent Burnham a letter urging him to recognise the findings of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that genocide had occurred in the Gaza Strip…..
P.S.
If in some unlikely event, against the mountain of evidence of genocide, Vanushi Walters policy statement, neglects to name what is being done to Palestinians in Gaza as genocide, it will be a lasting mark of shame on the New Zealand Labour Party and on Vanushi Walters personally.
“Phil Twyford, Labour Party MP for Te Atātu, also gave a strong statement on his party’s stance supporting Palestine, saying that foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters would present “official” policy at Parliament this week.”
David Robie – 29 August 2026
What day will Vanushi Walters present “official’ policy at Parliament this week?
A world that allows genocide is not worth living in.
A party that denies genocide is a party not worth voting for.
“Phil Twyford, Labour Party MP for Te Atātu, also gave a strong statement on his party’s stance supporting Palestine, saying that foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters would present “official” policy at Parliament this week.”
David Robie – 29 August 2026
Vanushi Walters “official” policy statement in Parliament this week, could be the most consequential statement on Palestine by a major political party in this country’s history.
Up to this point, the New Zealand Labour Party has resisted calling what is being done to Palestinians in Gaza a ‘Genocide’.
I look forward to hearing Vanushi Walters announce that the New Zealand Labour Party ‘officially’ recognise that genocide is being committed against Palestinians in Gaza by Israel.
“Official” recognition by the New Zealand Labour Party that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza will have major ramifications for this country and our world staning.
Such a clear moral stance announced by Vanushi Walters this week could even help the Labour Party win this election.
In the US and the UK political candidates running for high office that officially stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza are winning elections., ousting genocide denying Democratic Party and Labour Party incumbents in both countries.
Mayor Mamdani in New York, and Hannah Spencer in Gorton Denton are just two high profile wins for politicians who openly campaign on accusing Israel of committing genocide. Gorton Denton and New York City are only two high profile examples of many other electoral losses for incumbents who deny the genocide in Gaza.
The genocide in Gaza is the moral and political litmus test of our time. Many New Zealand voters, possibly a majority of voters, know that a political party that demonstrates moral courage on the genocide they can see going on in Gaza, can be counted on to show the same moral courage on all the other contentious moral and political issues in this country.
When Vanushi Walters states in parliament this week, that the New Zealand Labour Party’s “official” policy is that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, then this will turn the Gaza genocide into a major political election issue,
Just as it became a major defingin issue in US and UK elections, the genocide in Gaza will become a major point of moral and political difference, between contesting parties in this country,
Why is this significant?
New Zealand signed the Genocide Convention in New York in 1948 and ratified the treaty into New Zealand law in 1978.
By international treaty and New Zealand law, a New Zealand government that officially recognises a genocide is being committed anywhere in the world is legally bound to “Punish and Prevent” it.
To recognise a genocide is to commit to take action punish and prevent genocide.
To deny a genocide is to commit to take no action to punish and prevent genocide.
Genocide denial is the same a genocide complicity. Without officially recognising a genocide is being commited a government is bound to continue to do nothing to stop it.
So what could a labour led government do to fulfill this country’s international and New Zealand legal duty to stop genocide?
Cancel all NZDF military training exerecises that involve the IDF
Expel the Israeli ambassador.
Ban all Rocket Lab military spy flights that share intelligence with the IDF.
Officlally implement all the recomendations of the international divestment movement.
Investigate Israeli soldiers that visit this country for involvement in war crimes.
Except it isn’t a genocide Pat. It just isn’t. Duh. That’s just the legal fact of it. It doesn’t mean the conduct isn’t open to criticism – of course it is. But you running around in a hysterical flap screaming “it’s a genocide” doesn’t make it one. And you have been doing so since October 7 without a moments consideration of the crimes committed by Hamas that day.