 | |
 New Zealand |  Palestine |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of New Zealand, Ankara, Turkey | General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific |
New Zealand–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations betweenNew Zealand and theState of Palestine. New Zealand does not recognise Palestine as a country.[1]
New Zealand supports atwo-state solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute.[2][3]
DuringWorld War I, around 6000New Zealand soldiers fought in theSinai and Palestine campaign, a British campaign to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Levant, leading to the establishment of British-controlledMandatory Palestine in 1920.[4]
In 1975, New Zealand voted to designate permanent observer status to thePalestine Liberation Organisation in theUnited Nations.[5] In 1988, the government of New Zealand recognized the Palestine Information Office as the official representative of thePalestinian Liberation Organization based inCanberra.[6] New Zealand's embassy in Turkey is responsible for Palestinian affairs.[6]
In late November 2012, New Zealand voted in support of a resolution to grant theState of Palestine "non-member observer state" status in theUnited Nations. The New Zealand representative said that its vote was "consistent with its long-held support for the aspirations of the Palestinian people." New Zealand also reiterated Israel's right to exist in security and atwo-state solution but maintained that recognition of Palestinian statehood was a separate issue.[7]
In 2018, New Zealand singer Lorde called off a tour of Israel following pressure from two Palestinian activists in New Zealand.[8] The activists were fined by a court in Israel for their actions which they refused to pay.[9]
In May 2021, theGreen Party with the support ofTe Pāti Māori introduced a resolution calling on New Zealand to recognise Palestine.[10] It failed as it was not supported by the New Zealand National Party andACT Party.[10][11]
Prior to the outbreak of theGaza war in October 2023, the then governingNew Zealand Labour Party had promised to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine if elected, but later walked back on that decision.[1][12] In April 2024, the opposition Labour called for New Zealand torecognisePalestinian statehood.[13]
In May 2024, New Zealand voted in favor of a resolution to enhance the Palestinian role in the United Nations. The resolution passed in theUnited Nations General Assembly with the support of 143 countries.New Zealand Foreign MinisterWinston Peters said that New Zealand supported enhancing Palestine's status at the UN but reiterated that "this does not amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood."[14]
The New Zealand government condemned the Hamas attack that led to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and defended Israel's right to defend itself.[3][15] It called for a ceasefire and asked Israel to abide by international law.[16] New Zealand also announced NZ$10 million for Palestine and Israel.[3]Chris Hipkins, leader of theNew Zealand Labour Party, called for a ceasefire while other parties did not.[17]
Pro-Palestinian protestors in New Zealand sprayed red paint on the United States consulate.[18] A pro-Israel rally led byDestiny Church clashed with pro-Palestinian protestors outsideParliament in December 2023.[19]
In late January 2024, New Zealand suspended its annual NZ$1 million aid contribution toUNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) followingallegations that several UNRWA workers had participated in the2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[20] This followed a decision by theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to review New Zealand's aid to UNRWA in light of the allegations.[21]
In late February 2024,Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon andForeign MinisterWinston Peters confirmed that the New Zealand Government had designated the entire Hamas organisation as a terrorist entity. Previous governments had only designated themilitary wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. In addition, the New Zealand Government banned several extremist Israeli settlers who had committed violence against Palestinians in theWest Bank.[22]
According toWhakaata Māori'sTe Ao Māori News, New Zealand approved more visas for Israelis than Palestinians during the conflict.[23] In March 2024, New Zealand Arab Association spokesperson Katrina Mitchell Kouttab urged the Government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians to leave Gaza similar to the humanitarian visa programme created in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[24]
In early June 2024, Foreign Minister Peters announced that New Zealand would resume its annual NZ$1 million funding to UNRWA.[25]
In mid-May 2025, Peters joined 22 European, Australian, Canadian and Japanese foreign ministers and theEuropean Union in issuing a joint statement calling on Israel to allow a full resumption of aid to Gaza. Israel has imposed a full-scale blockade on humanitarian aid into the territory since March 2025. Peters said: "We believe the excuse Israel's got has long since evaporated away, given the suffering that's going on. Many countries share our view - that's why overnight we put out the statement.[26]
On 30 July 2025, New Zealand joined 15 other countries including France, Canada and Australia in signing the "New York Call" which proposed recognising Palestinian statehood at theUnited Nations General Assembly in September 2025. This announcement was criticised by both the US and Israeli governments for "rewarding" Hamas' terrorism.[27] On 9 August, the New Zealand, Australian, German, Italian and British Foreign Ministers issued a joint statement condemning Netanyahu's plan to militarily occupyGaza City.[28]
On 27 September 2025, Foreign Minister Peters confirmed during the 80th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly that New Zealand would not recognisePalestinian statehood on the grounds there was no "fully legitimate" state to recognise. He also reiterated New Zealand's condemnation ofHamas and opposition to Israeli military actions andIsraeli settlements in theWest Bank. The New Zealand Government also allocated NZ$10 million worth of emergency supplies to the Gaza Strip.[29]
Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, visited Ramallah in February 2010.[30]
In 2015, DrRiad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, visited New Zealand.[2][31] He held meetings with Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.[2] New Zealand drafted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling Israel to halt building illegal settlements in Palestinian territories.[2]Jim McLay was appointed the representative of New Zealand to thePalestinian Authority.[32]
Greg Lewis, New Zealand's Special Representative to Palestine, met Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of Palestine, in Ramallah in August 2022.[33]
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