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Opposition leader Chris Hipkins claims New Zealand missed its chance to show leadership. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has blasted the government's decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, calling it "morally reprehensible" and a failure of leadership.
Speaking to reporters after Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told the UN General Assembly in New York that New Zealand was "not ready" to recognise Palestine, Hipkins accused Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's coalition of showing weakness.
"New Zealand had an opportunity to show leadership here," Hipkins said. "They failed to show that leadership.
"Instead, New Zealand's government is turning its back on Palestine, when we see an unfolding genocide there.
"I think New Zealanders were hoping that our government would take a principled position and recognise Palestine, as our friends in Australia, the UK and Canada have all done. We are now an international outlier."
He accused the coalition of aligning New Zealand with the United States and Israel at a time when much of the international community was moving in the opposite direction.
"Refusing to recognise Palestine when the rest of the world is doing so isn't a neutral stance," he said. "The current New Zealand government is clearly aligning itself with the United States and Israel, rather than the rest of the world."
Hipkins also took aim at Luxon for skipping the UN General Assembly altogether.
"At a time when the world is so divided, when there is so much controversy around the world, New Zealand can - and has in the past - been a very principles-valued, values-based voice on the world stage," he said. "That's now clearly lacking."
'Wrong side of history'
Hipkins' comments added to the growing chorus of condemnation from the opposition, claiming the government was on the "wrong side of history", after it decided against recognising Palestinian statehood.
The government's rationale was that, with Hamas in place as the de facto government of the Gaza Strip and no clarity on next steps, there was no fully legitimate and viable State of Palestine for New Zealand to recognise.
The decision left New Zealand aligned with countries including Singapore, Japan, South Korea and the United States, who have not made the move, but at odds with countries like Australia, Canada and the UK, that have already recognised a Palestinian state.
The government's latest statement on Palestine did not sit well with opposition parties.
The Labour Party called the government's refusal to recognise Palestine as a state an "embarrassment" that puts New Zealand "on the wrong side of history".
"New Zealanders will feel let down by [Prime Minister] Christopher Luxon and his government today," Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said.
"Luxon had a chance to stand up for what is right, but he failed. There is no two-state solution or enduring peace in the Middle East, without recognition of Palestine as a state."
Henare said the Luxon and his coalition partners made the wrong call.
Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said New Zealanders would feel let down today. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Green Party's response echoed Labour's, saying the decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood was "a stain on Aotearoa's reputation as a voice for peace and justice internationally".
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said Luxon's government had lined up with the Trump administration over peace, justice and self-determination.
"Palestine needs our action, and our Government needs to take a stand and send a clear message to Israel that the genocide needs to stop," Davidson said. "The killing needs to stop."
Te Pāti Māori also condemned the government's latest statement on Palestine.
"They [Palestinians] need solidarity, recognition and justice," Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders said. "We acknowledge the $10 million of additional humanitarian aid, but money does not absolve complicity in silence.
"True solidarity requires political courage to call Israel's actions what they are - war crimes, apartheid and attempted genocide."
The government has committed a further $10 million to international humanitarian partners to deliver emergency supplies into Gaza, bringing New Zealand's total contribution to $47.5m.
ACT Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour was proud the government showed independence in foreign policy.
"Without political hype, we have worked through the issues as a coalition and come to the right position on a terrible situation, where there are no easy options," Seymour posted on social media.
Speaking to media after his UN speech, Peters said New Zealand had not come under any pressure from the US to make this decision.
"We would not be pressured and they realised that," he said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters in New York for the UN General Assembly. Photo: RNZ / Anneke Smith
NZ Jewish Council welcomes government's announcement
The New Zealand Jewish Council said it supported the government's announcement that it would only recognise a Palestinian state once requirements for statehood had been met.
"Recognition should be the outcome of real progress towards peace, not a substitute for it," NZ Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses said.
"We note and concur with the view of Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters' comments that recognition now would be portrayed as victory by Hamas."
The government said it was looking for "real actions" towards the development of a fully viable and legitimate State of Palestine, including in the areas of governance, democracy and institution-building, rather than "rhetoric in that direction".
It was also looking for the release by Hamas of all hostages, followed by the group disbanding and disarming, and the renouncement of violence and terrorism by all Palestinian political leaders, who have yet to do so.
The NZ Jewish Council said it supported a negotiated two-state solution, and supported the call for aid and an end to the war. The council also supported recognition when "the time is right and requirements for statehood are met", including the release of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas.
"New Zealand has a proud history of advocating for peace and the rules-based international order," Moses said. "By tying recognition to requirements that uphold those values, our country can play a constructive role in encouraging the difficult, but necessary compromises on both sides.
"Only then will recognition serve as a building block for peace.
"We look forward to the day when those requirements are met, and the Jewish and Palestinian people will both have self-determination, dignity and security, and live in peace."
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