OPEN LETTER TO OUR LOCAL MP'S


***CALL TO ACTION FOR WAIKATO RESIDENTS***

As you know the Greens Party has released a Proposed Members bill called the 'Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill'. 
This bill is currently in the ballot waiting to be drawn and debated in Parliament.
 
However this process can be bypassed, the bill already has the support of the Greens, Labor and Te pati Māori, it just needs the support of an additional 6 MP's from National, Act or NZ First indicate their support for it. 
 
This is where we come in; we can help to bypass the ballot process and get this into parliament by putting pressure on our local MP's to let their caucus know this is something that their constituents want. 
 
Please sign and share our open letter, the text of the letter is below.
Link to sign the open letter here, 
 
We have addressed it to our local MP's and will be presenting this letter to them in person with a delegation from Palestine Waikato and members of our community.  
  • Tama Potaka - Hamilton West
  • Ryan Hamilton - Hamilton East
  • Tim van de Molen - Waikato 
For Businesses or Organisations: 
If you are a business or part of an organisation who can support our letter, please get in touch to request a copy to sign.  

 The NZ government must enforce immediate sanctions on Israel and abide by International law. This is part of a collective effort of the Palestinian solidarity movement of Aotearoa, co-ordinated by Justice for Palestine.

Palestine Waikato Open Letter supporting the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill:

We, your constituents (undersigned), are deeply concerned about the horrific continued abuse of human rights by the Israeli regime in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).  

Israel’s presence in OPT has already been held to violate international law by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) (with support from the New Zealand government). Yet for over 19 months, Gaza has been reduced to rubble, while its population has been starved, bombed, burnt alive, and subject to unconscionable misery. In the West Bank home demolitions, forced displacement, and violent attacks on Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers and armed forces have been escalating. It is in this context that we urge you to take meaningful action and support the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill.

This matters to our local community in multiple ways, firstly our young people, particularly those from refugee, migrant, and minority backgrounds, but also the broader youth population, are watching how our leaders respond. Many of them are politically aware, engaged, and deeply affected by the images and testimonies coming out of Gaza and are especially conscious of this in the context of the upcoming elections as they approach or reach voting age. When they see the government remain silent or inactive in the face of mass civilian suffering, it undermines their belief in New Zealand’s known commitment to justice and equality. It sends a message that these values are conditional, and applied selectively depending on who is suffering. 

For our Arab and Muslim communities in Hamilton, the crisis in Gaza is both a humanitarian  tragedy and a personal one. Many have direct family ties to the region, they have lost family members and friends and have been retraumatised by the scale of violence, as well as by the international community’s inaction. For those who sought refuge in New Zealand in hopes of a better life for themselves and their children, witnessing such blatant disregard for human rights is not only heartbreaking but deeply unsettling. It sends a clear signal that their grief is invisible and their rights less worthy of defence. They expect New Zealand to uphold the same standards of international law regardless of who the perpetrators are. 

For many Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa, there is a shared connection with the Palestinian people in the colonisation and theft of indigenous lands. They see strong parallels between both cultures as they continue to resist colonisation and fight to preserve their land and taonga tuku iho.

More broadly, as people from Kirikiriroa, we expect our government to act with integrity when international law is violated. The people of Hamilton have a strong civic history of taking principled stands, whether it was against apartheid, nuclear proliferation, or war crimes. Gaza is no different. The ongoing atrocities, carried out in defiance of international legal norms, demand a response and without one, there are serious consequences for social cohesion and trust in public institutions.

There are clear financial risks to New Zealand if we fail to act. International boycotts against companies linked to Israel’s occupation are growing, targeting businesses involved in sectors like tech, defence, and agriculture. New Zealand companies could be directly affected, facing pressure from global movements that demand action on human rights. 

The Bill allows for sanctions to be imposed on Israel and uses the existing sanctions framework New Zealand imposed on Russia. It is a meaningful way for New Zealand to:

  • stand up for the human rights of Palestinians, Israelis and all people currently suffering under Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid regime;

  • be true to our word through concrete legislative action consistent with the UN resolutions New Zealand has supported to advance justice and peace in Palestine and Israel, and

  • comply with New Zealand’s obligations under international law, and contribute to maintaining the integrity of the rules-based international order.

As this is a members’ bill, if 61 or more non-executive MPs indicate support for the Bill, the Bill will be introduced without needing to be selected through the ballot process.

We are asking you to:

  • Let your caucus know your constituents want your party to support this Bill, and encourage other members of your party to support the introduction of the Bill, so we can get the 6 MPs needed to join the 55 that already support the Bill

  • Vote in favour of the Bill at all stages (once the Bill is introduced), so that it becomes law and the world can see that New Zealand will take action to uphold international law and stand up for the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis. 

Supporting the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill is a necessary act of moral and economic leadership. By supporting this Bill, New Zealand can avoid being included in international and national boycotts and protect our economic interests while upholding international law and human rights. It reflects not only our values as a local community, but it ensures all people in our community are protected by our government.

It is our belief that New Zealand must remain consistent in its commitment to human rights, accountability, and the rule of law: wherever and whenever they are threatened

We, the undersigned constituents, urge you to stand on the right side of history and do everything in your power to try to prevent the further genocide of the Palestinian people - supporting this Bill is a meaningful action your constituents want you to take as their representative.

Further information: