On the 24th of April 1915, the Ottoman Empire began systematic massacres and mass deportations of indigenous Armenians, killing between 1 and 1.5 million and displacing 100,000's more - over 90% of the Ottoman Armenian population.[1,2] Historians and genocide scholars overwhelmingly agree that the Ottoman Empire's actions constitute a genocide.[3] But over 100 years later, New Zealand still has not officially recognised this history.[4] By refusing to acknowledge the atrocities of the past, New Zealand sets a dangerous precedent. In the years after the Armenian Genocide, many European countries turned a blind eye and believed in Turkey's genocide denial, allowing a new wave of genocidal leaders to take charge.[5] Adolf Hitler himself justified his invasion of Poland in 1939 by saying, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?".[6] More recently, in 2022-3, Azerbaijan blockaded and invaded the ethnically Armenian territory of Artsakh and ethnically cleansed over 100,000 indigenous Armenians.[7,8] New Zealand's only response was to sign a joint statement in the UN expressing "deep concern" and (unsuccessfully) asking Azerbaijan to comply with international law.[9] When we do not acknowledge history, we are doomed to make the same mistakes and allow atrocities to continue around the world. Over 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as the European Parliament and Latin American Parliament, have all taken this essential step of formally recognising the Armenian Genocide.[10] How can New Zealand claim to be a world leader while falling behind on such a basic benchmark? Our government is doing a disservice not only to the Armenians of New Zealand but to everyone. If we don't have the spine to recognise a genocide from 1915, how are we to recognise and fight against genocide today? Together we must stand up for the truth. This Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, we call on New Zealand to formally recognise the Armenian Genocide and make a commitment to uphold its responsibility to the international community. References:  1. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/16/the-armenian-genocide-the-guardian-briefing 2. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-were-the-consequences-of-the-Armenian-Genocide 3. https://genocidescholars.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Scholars-Denying-Armenian-Genocide-.pdf 4. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124109301/anzacs-and-atrocities-will-new-zealand-ever-recognise-the-armenian-genocide 5. https://www.armenian-genocide.org/recognition.html 6. https://genocideeducation.org/more-resources/hitler-and-the-armenian-genocide/ 7. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/22/inside-nagorno-karabakh-blockade-armenia-azerbaijan 8. https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-azerbaijani-regime-ethnically-cleansed-nagorno-karabakh-according-international 9. https://allinnet.info/news/a-joint-statement-regarding-the-situation-in-nagorno-karabakh-was-presented-at-the-un-human-rights-council/ 10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_genocide_recognition Image: Armenian Deportees, November 1915. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Photo Archives. Courtesy of Sybil Stevens (daughter of Armin T. Wegner). Wegner Collection, Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach & United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/photo/armenian-deportees

Most people in Aotearoa want to support peace and justice in the world and see action to protect international law.  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is deeply embedded with the US military now and regularly conducts training to ensure the 'interoperability' of NZ troops into US combat operations.  This is despite the US and Israel waging an aggressive war against Iran and bombing countries without provocation. Aggressive war is often referred to as the "supreme international crime" because it encompasses the planning, initiation, and waging of war in violation of international law. This concept was notably established during the Nuremberg Trials, where leaders were held accountable for such actions. [1] The US is deeply complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity for the funding of the genocide in Gaza over the past 2+ years. Furthermore, the current commander in chief has threatened to commit war crimes in Iran by 'bombing it back to the stone age.' [2] The New Zealand Army is talking with its United States counterparts about having American troops train regularly on Kiwi soil. [3] New Zealand should have nothing to do with war criminals and those who actively destroy international law.  The NZDF should operate with countries that uphold international law and do not wage aggressive wars.  References 1. https://www.nurembergacademy.org/research/projects/the-crime-of-aggression 2.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/2/bomb-back-to-the-stone-age-us-history-of-threats-and-carpet-bombing 3. https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360781349/nz-army-talking-us-about-regular-training-kiwi-soil

The Waitakere Ranges are precious.  They provide Auckland with fresh air and clean water.  They provide us with serenity and artistic inspiration.  They have been described as “the lungs of Tamaki Makaurau” and Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa is a very effective sequesterer of carbon.  To address threats to the Ranges, the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act was passed in 2008.  It has worked well at holding development pressures at bay and maintaining the beauty and uniqueness of the Ranges.  Law changes now before Parliament risk gutting the protections in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008. The Heritage Area Act cross-references the Resource Management Act. But the Government is replacing the RMA with the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill without updating those references — which would render large parts of the Heritage Area Act meaningless. That would strip consent processes, Regional Spatial Plans and Land Use Plans of their duty to protect the Ranges. In short: the Ranges could be weakened by a thousand cuts. Subdivision of the Ranges would be more likely and decision makers would not have to have as one of their guiding principles the protection of the Ranges. The Bill is reported back to Parliament on June 26. Urgent action is needed if we are to fix this before then.   Together we can protect the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area for future generations. Please sign and share this petition with friends and family. For more information please refer to this Environmental Defence Society article in the Herald and the Waitākere Ranges Local Board's submission can be read here.

The Iranian community has been following the news coming out of Iran with anxiety, dread and fear for our families and loved ones. Iranians have suffered immensely in recent years, whether as a result of dictatorship and oppression or now due to conflict and war[1,2,3]. The experience of watching atrocities, whether crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian Government or war crimes now taking place in Iran and harming Iranian civilians, have been traumatic and deeply troubling to Iranian New Zealanders. In this context, Iranian New Zealanders are desperately seeking ways to support their loved ones, uphold their right to life and support their safety in any way that they can. The ability to sponsor loved ones would make a meaningful difference to the well-being of Iranians living in New Zealand, and provide a lifeline to those caught up in violence. The New Zealand Government has demonstrated its capability in addressing urgent humanitarian crises in the response to the war in Ukraine and through establishing a special visa category[4]. The Iranian community seeks a similar opportunity to aid their loved ones, and is ready, willing and able to commit to any formal undertaking necessary, agreeing to be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and other relevant costs. In addition, Iranians have faced deep hardship as parents wait years in the Parent Resident Visa ballot while conditions in Iran grow more dangerous and unstable. Elderly parents lack safety and support, and long delays cause serious emotional and mental strain. We also urgently seek prioritisation for Iranian parents currently awaiting confirmation of the status of their Resident Visa applications.  Lastly, we are also seeking blanket automatic extensions for Iranians currently in New Zealand on temporary visas, as returning to Iran under these conditions places these Iranians in great danger. Call to Action: If you would like to help, please sign and share this petition with your friends and family, together we can make sure that the government supports our community and families can be reunited. References: [1]https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2026/01/what-happened-at-the-protests-in-iran/  [2] https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-protest-massacres-in-iran/  [3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/urgent-call-to-protect-civilians-and-respect-international-law-amid-escalating-regional-conflict-following-us-and-israeli-attacks-on-iran/  [4] https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/special-ukraine-visa/ 

Washington has moved to cut off Cuba’s access to imported oil and other energy resources, leading to increased blackouts andshortages of basic human necessities. “There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba - Zero!” US president Trump announced on January 11.  This callous approach is in line with decades of US hostility, including a 65-year economic embargo that has caused immense harm and has been repeatedly and overwhelmingly condemned in votes at the United Nations General Assembly. It threatens starvation, a policy which the 1998 Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court, classified as a war crime. New Zealand has signed and ratified the Rome Statute. Cuba’s overthrow of a US-backed dictatorship in 1959 has earned it the ire of thirteen US presidents. But Cuba is no threat to the United States. Like all sovereign nations, it has the right to determine its own political, economic and social system, free from external interference and threats.Declaring Cuba’s readiness for talks with Washington, Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel described as “reprehensible…such an aggressive and criminal policy towards a small nation.” He asked, “What does it mean to not allow a drop of fuel to reach a country?” We recognise that any attack against Cuba is a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Charter and would undermine regional peace and stability. As a small nation New Zealand has every interest in supporting the UN Charter, which recognizes the sovereign equality of all nations and protects their independence against large countries who threaten them. You too can sign the Call for Peace and Sovereignty and say no to war and intervention. Open letter distributed by Cuba Friendship Society, [email protected] Contact Matt Robson, [email protected] Make a donation towards urgent humanitarian aid for Cuba through the New Zealand Cuba Society Account: 02-0159-0200303-00

We, the general public, and the undersigned clinicians, scientists, and health professionals, call for the urgent reinstatement of basic airborne-infection-control measures—clean indoor air and appropriate airborne respiratory protection —in all healthcare settings across Aotearoa, New Zealand. These are the simplest and most effective tools to prevent avoidable illness, disability, and death among both patients and staff.  Since the withdrawal of SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 mitigations, hospitals and clinics have faced relentless outbreaks of respiratory viruses. Emergency departments are routinely operating beyond safe capacity, and senior doctors have compared recent winters to “mass-casualty situations.” [1] Aotearoa New Zealand’s “vax-and-relax” strategy has failed to protect our people. 1 in 5 children infected with COVID develop long-term symptoms. [2] Nurses and doctors have among the highest global rates of Long COVID [3], and ongoing staff illness contributes to understaffing, treatment delays, and preventable deaths. There are currently no adequate systems in place to support long COVID and post-viral disease in New Zealand, and instead, patients are met with medical gaslighting and a lack of medical and social support. [4] COVID-19 causes vascular damage and damage to every organ in the body, including the brain and heart, due to its ability to target endothelial tissues. [5] It wreaks havoc on the immune system, leading to an impaired response to future immune assaults. This has led to the rise of more severe responses to other illnesses, worsening of current conditions, outbreaks of recurrent infections (including fungal and bacterial), thus increasing pressure on emergency medical services. [6] Excuses such as "immunity debt” are not scientifically substantiated; in fact, all viruses damage rather than enhance the immune system, for example, both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza at least triple the risk of heart attacks. [7] The effects of viruses have been missed, overlooked, and minimised, leading to a culture of indifference and ignorance surrounding the impacts of catching regular viruses, including in healthcare settings and a reluctance to change following the ever-growing body of research that shows viruses can cause more significant harm than first thought.  We strongly believe that every person in Aotearoa New Zealand has a right to access safe healthcare without the risk of catching a deadly or disabling virus. This falls under our legal right to health, including access to timely and appropriate healthcare. Additionally, every healthcare worker has the right to a safe workplace and working conditions that support them to stay home when sick. [8] Treating airborne infection as a matter of “personal responsibility” violates these rights and undermines public trust. Critically, for the best prevention possible, fit-tested respirator masks (N95/FFP2 and N100/FFP3) must become the standard in all health care settings. Surgical masks are proven not to be effective against aerosolised respiratory viruses. [9] According to the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), it is a breach of health and safety standards to claim that surgical masks protect against inhaled hazards.  Like sterile surgical gloves or seatbelts, respirators and ventilation are proven life-saving norms —not restrictions on freedom, but tools that enable freedom through safety. We respectfully urge the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the government and other regulatory bodies in charge of these regulations to implement the following evidence-based protections: 1. Use proven mitigations to prevent the spread of respiratory and other aerosol viruses at all times.  2. The return of mandatory protections for aerosolised viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 at all times, not just during a known ward outbreak, in all clinical spaces. Including visitors, staff and patients (where medically possible). 3. Respirators, i.e N95's or equivalent, not surgical masks, are to be used as the default mask practice (this is because surgical masks are not PPE for respiratory viruses.)  4. Paid sick leave and safer staffing levels so infected staff can stay home until they are no longer infectious and are well enough to safely perform their duties. 5. Return to regular COVID testing in emergency departments and wards. Including the numbers of patients and staff catching viruses like COVID-19 in hospitals, and nationally, the number of Long Covid cases and associated pathologies.  6. Mechanical ventilation and HEPA filtration in all patient-care spaces, operated at all times rather than reactively and ensure safe CO2 levels in each space. 7. Education on the importance of masking, different types of masks, their effectiveness and the proven damaging effects of COVID-19 infections. This information needs to be shared regularly with the public. 8. Increase funding, clinical care and community support for Long Covid and associated pathologies such as ME/CFS, POTS, Cognitive issues and more.  (Please read the full letter for all details and recommendations) Health is a collective responsibility. Allowing uncontrolled viral spread threatens not only individual lives but the sustainability of the entire health system. By restoring clean-air standards and airborne viral protection, Aotearoa can once again lead the world in compassionate, science-based public health. A final note to anyone in healthcare, you do not need to wait for another mandate to start masking with the best tools we have to protect yourself and patients and the community today.  Thank you! From Mask Up NZ in association with Aotearoa Covid Action. This petition is dedicated to Alice Wong, Leslie Lee III, and anyone who has lost their lives or had their health impacted by viral spread in a health care setting. (contact: [email protected]) References [1] https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360816342/ [2] https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.70104 [3] https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae113 [4] https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577991/ [5] https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9540 [6] https://whn.global/scientific/the-long-term-immune-effects-of-covid/ [7] https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.125.042670 [8] https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/0070/latest/DLM5976660.html [9] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00192-0/fulltext  

Every person in Aotearoa should be able to enrol and vote safely, without fear that being on the electoral roll could put them or their whānau at risk. Enrolling should protect people’s right to participate in democracy while also upholding their personal safety and wellbeing.  Currently, the electoral roll in Aotearoa is public, meaning names and addresses are openly accessible. For many people, including survivors of violence or those with past convictions, this creates real safety risks. While the hidden (unpublished) roll exists, it is very hard to access and requires extensive proof of current risk. This leaves many vulnerable people unprotected. It also undermines whānau throughout Aotearoa who don’t have the financial stability to get legal representation to support their application. For example, my dad (an ex-prisoner) didn’t feel safe enrolling in 2023. He applied for the hidden roll but was denied, even though he was genuinely worried people from his past could find him and put him and our family at risk. This could be achieved by: • Expanding access to the hidden roll by broadening eligibility so people with credible past risks can apply.  • Making the application process faster, clearer, and easier to understand.  • Ensuring decisions are made quickly, with clear reasons if denied. • Create a simple, accessible appeals process for those turned down.

Since October 2023 the world has witnessed the state of Israel perpetrate innumerable war crimes and human rights violations against the people of Gaza [1], while the violence, repression, and forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has escalated [2]. But this violent oppression has been the modus operandi of the decades-long Israeli occupation. The International Court of Justice [3] along with international human rights organisations [4] have repeatedly laid bare the Israeli occupation’s systematic breaches of international law, discriminatory apartheid regime, and abuses of Palestinian human rights. People of conscience in Aotearoa New Zealand have been steadfast in their opposition to Israel’s disregard of fundamental human rights of Palestinians, international legal frameworks and institutions. Across the country we have been standing up for our common humanity and to maintain the integrity of the international law that is meant to keep us all safe. The time of impunity for Israel's occupation and unlawful and dehumanising behaviour must end. We demand that the New Zealand Government impose economic, diplomatic and military sanctions on Israel as a concrete consequence for its breaches of international law and human rights violations.  What action can New Zealand take to stand firmly for justice for Palestine? Just as Russia was swiftly and firmly sanctioned for its unlawful invasion and occupation of Ukraine, sanctions should be applied against Israel for its unlawful occupation of Palestine and its innumerable  breaches of international law and human rights violations. We believe that sanctions are a just, meaningful and non-violent way for New Zealand to: • stand up for the human rights of Palestinians and all people currently suffering under Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid regime; • take concrete legislative action to back up our statements and the UN Resolutions we have supported to advance justice and peace in Palestine and Israel [5]; • comply with our obligations under international law and commitments under international humanitarian law; and • contribute to maintaining the integrity of the rules-based international order and uphold an independent and moral foreign policy. Standing up for the fundamental human rights of Palestinians is a matter of conscience. By delivering concrete consequences to Israel for its actions, our Government can uphold Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to the human rights and dignity of all people, adhere to our responsibilities at international law, and stand on the right side of history.  We call on the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs to show moral courage and impose sanctions on Israel without delay and until it complies with its obligations under international law. With integrity to the ethical, non-violent and anti-racist principles of the Palestinian-led BDS Movement, the campaign for sanctions against the Israeli occupation of Palestine seeks to ground these principles in the context of Aotearoa. Alongside rejecting all forms of racism including anti-semitism and Islamophobia, a kaupapa which opposes settler colonialism abroad must respect the authority of mana whenua in our respective rohe. Working alongside iwi Māori to honour, defend and advance Te Tiriti o Waitangi is critical to opposing the colonisation of Palestine.   The campaign for sanctions is the collective effort of the Palestinian solidarity movement of Aotearoa. References [1] https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/10/un-commission-finds-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-israeli-attacks; https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164496  [2] https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159411;  [3] Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (Advisory Opinion) [2024]. [4] Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967 (A/HRC/49/87); Amnesty International Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians (2002); B’Tselem A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid (2021); Human Rights Watch A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution (2021) [5]  In September 2024 New Zealand joined 123 other United Nations member states in supporting the United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24, which affirmed the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) was unlawful. New Zealand was also the co-sponsor of UNSC Resolution 2334 which affirmed the Israeli settlements in the OPT were unlawful.

With the repealing and replacing of the Mental Health Act currently taking place, now is the time to get this important issue in front of decision makers to ensure provisions are in place in the new legislation to ensure better outcomes for mothers who suffer from a perinatal mental illness. ⚠️ The Issues: • Capability of perinatal mental health services. Currently, there is a significant shortage of resources, leading to a reactive, crisis-driven approach where individuals often only receive help when they are in urgent need, much like an 'ambulance at the bottom of the cliff' response. This results in many not getting the proactive and voluntary care they require until it's too late, and thus results in compulsory treatment orders, or worst case scenario, tragic outcomes.  • Lack of Specialised Care: Current mental health services are insufficiently equipped to support postpartum women, particularly in general psychiatric wards that fail to address the specific needs of mothers. • Trauma of Separation: The separation of mothers from their newborn babies during such a vulnerable time is profoundly damaging to both the mother and the child, exacerbating mental health struggles and hindering recovery. • Need for Accessible Mother and Baby Units: There is an urgent need for mother and baby units that are accessible to all women (including in the regional areas) that would allow mothers experiencing postpartum mental illness to receive the care they need while remaining with their infants, promoting healing and the vital mother-child bond. 💬 Why is this issue important to me?  In 2022, after a complicated pregnancy and birth, I unfortunately developed an acute postpartum mental illness. Despite seeking help voluntarily (which included a declined referral to Maternal Mental Health whilst pregnant, requests for support while becoming unwell in hospital postpartum, and two subsequent visits to the Emergency Department where I was sent home), I was eventually sectioned under the Mental Health Act (1992), and separated from my son just three weeks postpartum. I was placed in the general psychiatric ward in Tauranga, a space that was terrifying, unsafe, and not suitable for a new mother experiencing a postpartum mental illness and recovering from childbirth. The experience left me traumatised, with symptoms of PTSD and severe depression for the first two years of my son’s life. Through my advocacy, I’ve since learned that many others have faced similar trauma due to systemic gaps in perinatal mental healthcare. The lack of specialised support has long-lasting impacts, not only on the mother and baby, but also fathers, and the wider whānau. In 2023, around the time of my son’s first birthday, I wrote to the hospital and public health services to genuinely engage about the issues I faced and suggest areas for improvement. My concerns were dismissed. This led to a decline in my mental health and forced me to step back. But in 2024, I read about the Mental Health Bill (the legislative reform of our Mental Health Act) in the Mental Health Foundation’s newsletter – and decided that this was the right time to speak out, while the issue was on the agenda for decision-makers. I made a written submission on the Mental Health Bill in December 2024, and delivered an oral submission to the Health Committee in February 2025. In May, I started an advocacy page on Instagram called @actionformamas. This is where I raise awareness and share content to help break the stigma of perinatal mental illness, including postpartum psychosis, which is a terrifying yet highly treatable perinatal mental illness that carries a lot of stigma and shame. This illness is what I experienced after the birth of my son.  ✅ The Solutions • Provide proactive, compassionate, culturally appropriate, and specialist care for women who experience severe perinatal mental illness • Prevent traumatic separations, supporting recovery and bonding between māmā and pēpi • Ensure appropriate and sufficient services are in place to improve mental health outcomes for whānau across Aotearoa  By improving perinatal mental health services and funding dedicated mother and baby units, we can ensure that no mother is forced to endure the traumatic separation from their newborn or face inadequate care in a general psychiatric ward. This is essential for the well-being of both mothers and their babies, and it is a necessary step in improving mental health care for all New Zealanders. ✍️ Add your name to support this change. Together, we can stop the trauma and start healing. No māmā should be left behind.

1.Rules based order. New Zealand supports a rules-based international order – for example through the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Israel is the world’s most egregious violator of international rules. Things have got extremely dire this last month. Gaza is a walled in community where the population cannot leave and no food or water has been allowed in since May 8 2025 [2]   2. War crimes. Unfortunately, our government has stayed silent, although it has called for a negotiated settlement in Gaza, which Israel agreed to and then has trashed. Israel agreed to a three-phase ceasefire in January this year but then refused to negotiate stage two of the agreement which would have forced it to withdraw its troops from Gaza. An arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for trial on war crimes charges. [3] 3. The precedent exists: New Zealand Government has imposed sanctions before for war crimes. The Green Party bill is based on the sanctions the government has imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Why did we sanction Russia but not Israel? 4. The New Zealand Government has spoken out before against illegal Israeli settlements and criticised IDF attacks on UN staff.[4] NZ has made it clear that Israel needs to let humanitarian aid into Gaza and for a permanent ceasefire to come into being. NZ also voted in the UN General Assembly last September to endorse the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory was illegal and Israel must vacate Occupied Palestinian Territorywithin a year. 5.  TheNew Zealand Governmen must follow the ICJ. [5]T he ruling by the ICJ requires NZ to take actions against Israel’s illegal occupation but the government has done nothing. 6 Pressure from the international community is mounting. This week alone, the Hague group 30 states from Africa, Asia, Europe, as well as North America and South America have come together for multilateral action against the Genocide in Gaza. [6] Joining Belgium, Spain and Ireland, France, the UK and Canada have now moved to recognise Palestinian statehood.[7] Why now? Starving civilians, severely malnourished children are dying daily in increasing numbers.[8] In an alert, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, relayed desperate testimonies from its colleagues who are also struggling to survive in the war-torn enclave. “We’re in the death phase,” one UNRWA worker said. “Everything around people at the moment is death, whether it’s bombs or strikes, children wasting away in front of their eyes from malnourishment, from dehydration, and dying.” Doctors and nurses who continue to work in the UN agency’s clinics and medical centres “are watching children disappear and die in front of their eyes, and there's absolutely nothing that they can do about it,” the worker continued.  The development comes after desperate Gazans seeking aid came under fire at the weekend “from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire”, according to the UN World Food Programme. [9] In a detailed statement after the incident on Sunday 20 July, it explained that a 25-truck lorry convoy crossed the Zikim border point in northern Gaza “destined for starving communities”. Shortly after passing the final checkpoint after the Zikim crossing point, the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians waiting to access food supplies. This was when the shooting began, leaving “countless” Gazans dead, WFP said, echoing reports by the health authorities. Condemning the incident, WFP noted that the victims “were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation”. That's why we're calling on the National party members to support the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Bill  - as your constituents, we are telling you now is the time to act.  References: [1] New Zealand Parliament |Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill  [2] [8] Terror and chaos for Gaza’s people now entering the ‘death phase’ | UN News [3] UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: The worst case scenario of famine is now happening in Gaza  [4]  Israel/OPT: Netanyahu, Gallant and Al-Masri must face justice at the ICC for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity - Amnesty International  [5] NZ can respond to ICJ ruling on Israel - AUT News [6] Emergency Conference of The Hague Group [7] Canada to recognise Palestine at UN general assembly, joining France and UK in push for new state | World news | The Guardian    [9] Gaza Convoy Incident Statement | World Food Programme 

Local governments have a role to play in upholding this legal framework and ensuring our cities do not profit from or contribute to the normalisation of human rights violations by dealing with the listed organisations and companies. Failure to do so would be a grave blow to the credibility of and trust in the international legal order, and to the reputation of New Zealand.   Palmerston North is a proud multicultural city, and a certified Welcoming Community. We have many sister cities, in support of international peace, and our Mayor is currently the President of Sister Cities NZ. Many members of our community have whakapapa to the Arab world and are deeply affected by events in the Middle East. The Palestinian members of our community are grieving; they have all lost family and friends, and have faced decades of trauma and loss.   As a city, we have historically stood for peace, social responsibility, and human rights. Our Council has ethical guidelines for its operations and procurement processes, with commitments to values such as integrity, sustainability, and inclusion.   It is crucial that the Council condemns injustice wherever it occurs, in reflection of our shared ethics.  We cannot claim to support women while watching Palestinian women targeted and starved. We cannot say we protect tamariki while Gaza’s children are orphaned, amputated without anaesthetic, and lie cold under rubble. We cannot support human rights while turning away from genocide. This is the test of our generation, and history will remember what we choose.   While Palmerston North City Council may not currently purchase large volumes of goods directly,  we call for a formal policy that ensures:   • PNCC does not knowingly enter into service contracts, sponsorships, or investment arrangements with companies that profit from or are complicit in violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, including the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territory.   • PNCC commits to ongoing ethical screening of procurement, investment, and funding practices, in line with its existing sustainability and social responsibility goals.   • PNCC aligns future policy development with New Zealand’s obligations under international law and the rulings and advisory opinions of the ICC and ICJ.   This is an ethical call, not a political call. Councils have, in the past, taken ethical positions on international issues, including condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sponsoring fundraising, and fundraising for Ukraine, and refusing procurement from companies complicit in other abuses.  Likewise, the procurement policies called for in this petition are neither arbitrary nor politically  biased — they are based in international law: UNSC Resolution 2334, ICJ Advisory, Opinions, and  the Rome Statute and Geneva Conventions, which prohibit aiding and abetting war crimes or  occupation. Councils have a duty to not support or engage with entities complicit in these crimes,  especially as the ICJ and ICC are now actively investigating crimes against humanity and plausible  genocide.  Across Aotearoa New Zealand, local authorities have begun taking action. Far North, Whanganui, Nelson, and Dunedin City Councils have passed motions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza  and to uphold Palestinian human rights. In addition, Nelson and Christchurch City Councils have  amended their procurement policies to comply with UNSC Resolution 2334 and not contract with  the list of companies identified by the UN Human Rights Council as being involved in the building,  maintenance, or consolidation of illegal Israeli settlements (as has Environment Canterbury  Regional Council). Dunedin City Council’s Community Services Committee has recommended that  their Council support the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill proposed by the Green  Party, and supported by the Labour Party and Te Pāti Māori. This movement is part of a wider global effort. Hundreds of city councils worldwide (including in  Australia, USA, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Turkey, and Belgium) have passed motions calling for a  ceasefire, to divest from companies complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights,  and/or to end Sister City relationships.   In light of the above, we urge Palmerston North City Council to pass the following motions:  CEASEFIRE MOTION   That Palmerston North City Council:   1. Expresses grave concern at the continuing loss of life in Gaza and Israel, and calls for an  immediate and permanent ceasefire;   2. Condemns all acts of violence against civilians, and calls for the immediate release of all  Israeli and Palestinian hostages held unlawfully;   3. Calls on the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand to actively support a permanent ceasefire, uphold ICJ rulings, and fulfil its legal obligations under international law, including UNSC Resolution 2334.  ETHICAL PROCUREMENT MOTION  That Palmerston North City Council formally adopts and enacts an ethical Procurement and  Investment Framework that:   1. Incorporates respect for human rights, international law, and peacebuilding as key criteria  in decision-making;   2. Screen suppliers, contractors, and investment partners for involvement in serious human rights violations, including those identified by the United Nations and international courts, UNSC Resolution 2334, and the 2004 and 2024 ICJ rulings on the wall and settlements,  ensuring that Council resources are not used in ways that contribute to the occupation or related violations.   Passing these motions would place Palmerston North City Council among the ethical leaders of local government in Aotearoa New Zealand, building on its commitment to sustainability and social justice.

As teachers, the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi is always at the forefront of our minds. We want children everywhere to be able to thrive and learn, and to grow up in a safe, stable environment. Unfortunately, our NZ schools are reliant on a leasing scheme which includes a contract between the Ministry of Education and HP - a company that provides computer hardware to the genocidal regime in Israel. HP products assist Israel in maintaining the illegal occupation of Palestine [1]. The contract between HP and the NZ Government is worth millions of dollars. HP currently supplies many teachers and education staff in schools across Aotearoa New Zealand with leased HP branded laptops, tablets and Chromebooks. This means that as educators in Aotearoa, we are using technology which supports a company that contributes to the ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine when we do our mahi. This does not align with the values of compassion, equity, and care for future generations that we hold as teachers. Background HP Inc (US) provides services to the offices of genocide leaders, Israeli PM Netanyahu and Financial Minister Smotrich [2]. HPE, which shares the same brand, provides technology for Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, a pillar of its apartheid regime [1]. This ID system forms a core part of the Israeli apartheid regime’s tiered system of citizenship and residency that privileges Israel’s Jewish population and gives inferior status and rights to Palestinians, especially those in East Jerusalem. HP's technology is used to uphold institutional racial discrimination and segregation in relation to freedom of movement, housing, employment, marriage, healthcare, education, and policing. This discrimination is further exacerbated in the case of Palestinian “residents” in occupied East Jerusalem, whose most basic rights can and are being revoked arbitrarily. The system also holds information about Israeli citizens living in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, therefore serving Israel’s settler colonial project directly [3]. HP has also worked directly with the Israeli military, helping build its IT infrastructure [4]. This has included a program with the Israeli Navy which enforces the illegal naval blockade on Gaza [1]. Teachers for Palestine Aotearoa stands with activist groups across Aotearoa who want to see our nation live up to a long history of fighting against oppression. We demand justice for Palestine! We call on Erica Stanford and the NZ Government to have courage, listen to what New Zealanders want, and cease all procurement agreements with HP. References: [1] https://www.whoprofits.org/companies/company/3774?hewlett-packard-enterprise-hpe [2] https://bdsmovement.net/BoycottHP-GazaGenocide-Update [3] https://visualizingpalestine.org/visual/israeli-id-system-animation/  [4] https://investigate.afsc.org/company/hewlett-packard