Greens Call For Safe Passage Of Madleen And Government To Sanction Israel
'The Green Party is calling for the safe passage of the Madleen and for the New Zealand Government to step up and sanction Israel for its violent occupation of Palestine and continued disregard for international law," says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.
'The Madleen was trying to get much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, and has been intercepted by the Israeli Military in international waters. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the International Court of Justice's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
'Weaponising critical humanitarian aid must stop. Shooting at innocent people lining up for kai must stop. Aotearoa New Zealand cannot remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza.
'I was on a peace flotilla for Gaza almost ten years ago and it pains me to still see the need for one all these years later.
'If we stand for human rights and peace and justice, our Parliament must act. The New Zealand Government must sanction Israel and can do so by supporting Chlöe Swarbrick's Member's Bill. All we need is the support of six Government MPs to make this happen.
'In September, Aotearoa joined 123 UN Member States to support a resolution calling for sanctions against those responsible for Israel's 'unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence.'
'Our Government has since done nothing to fulfil that commitment. Our Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill starts that very basic process.
'The Green Party stands with the Madleen and will continue to fight for the people of Palestine,' says Marama Davidson.
Notes:
In 2016, Marama Davidson was a part of the Women's Boat to Gaza which brought awareness to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted the crucial role of women in keeping their communities afloat, particularly in post-conflict situations.
Standing Order 288 outlines the process for Member's Bills to bypass the member's bill ballot (colloquially known as the 'biscuit tin'), with the support of 61 non-executive members. With 55 Opposition members now officially in support of Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, the support of just 6 Government MPs are necessary to get the Bill onto the floor of Parliament.
On 10th December 2024, Swarbrick wrote to all Members of Parliament asking their support for the Bill to bypass the ballot, and later asked the Prime Minister in the House if there would be any Government policy or position preventing MPs from exercising their democratic right to support the Bill bypassing the ballot. He said that he would have a 'good look at the Bill'.
In the tenth emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on 18 September 2024, NZ joined 123 other member states in supporting United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24 'Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory'.
This resolution affirmed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's actions and presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called upon all states to comply with their obligations under international law, and, amongst other actions, called upon all States to implement sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against natural and legal persons engaged in the maintenance of Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence.
This Bill implements a sanctions framework, duplicating the Russia Sanctions Act, to allow sanctions to be imposed by the Government against Israel in response to Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Bill implements some initial sanctions against Israeli Ministers, Israeli MPs who have supported the occupation, and military leadership, as well as sanctions on assets and services relating to arms and assets and services that are of economic or strategic importance to Israel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Number of high-security beds at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison could rise by up to 460, document shows
It said the population would increase rapidly until June 2028 and then rise gradually until June 2035. In a section of the long-term network configuration plan entitled The Future Prison Network – what could the prison network look like in the next 20 Years, the plan calls for new high-security capacity at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison. Between 240 and 720 new high-security beds would be built at the facility, to replace 256 existing beds deemed to be poor quality, the plan shows. The report also mentions the refurbishment of six hut units – typically low-security buildings for prisoners nearing release – which would improve quality and decrease bed numbers in these units from 380 to 252. A spokesperson from Corrections said on August 4, 2025, Hawke's Bay Regional Prison had 755 operational beds, 68 of which were vacant. Hawke's Bay Regional Prison. Photo / Paul Taylor Labour Corrections spokeswoman Dr Tracey McLellan said the party had warned before the 2023 election that the coalition Government was laying the groundwork for a 'mega-prison' in Hawke's Bay. 'The plan for up to 720 new high-security beds turns Hawke's Bay Regional Prison into one of the largest custodial sites in the country,' McLellan said. 'People in Hawke's Bay didn't ask for a mega-prison. They asked for better housing, safer communities and support for youth – not more cells.' Before the 2023 general election, then Tukituki Labour MP Anna Lorck said she didn't want any more beds built at the prison. 'What we know happens is, if we build a mega-prison, there will be more serious criminals brought into Hawke's Bay to serve their time and with them come their associates,' Lorck said at the time. Wedd said at the time that Lorck was peddling 'desperate misinformation' with her 'mega-prison' claim. When contacted by Hawke's Bay Today, Lorck, no longer in politics, said she hoped the region fights back against any plan to build a larger prison. 'It's the last thing our region needs,' she said. Wedd said Corrections had a range of projects under way to increase the number and quality of beds across the prison network, but no projects at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison had been confirmed. A Corrections spokesperson said public safety was their top priority, and ensuring they had sufficient fit-for-purpose prison capacity was critical to keeping the public safe. 'The Hawke's Bay Regional Prison redevelopment is a potential project being planned to meet the forecast rising demand for high-security beds at the prison,' the spokesperson said. 'This project would deliver additional high-security accommodation and necessary upgrades and replacements to essential site infrastructure such as the gatehouse and visitor facilities. 'The detailed scope of the project is being developed and the project remains subject to approvals and funding decisions.' The spokesperson said they could not provide timings of when decisions would be made. Inmate numbers at NZ's largest prisons*: Mt Eden Corrections Facility – 1318 Rimutaka Prison – 1024 Auckland South Corrections Facility – 960 Spring Hill Corrections Facility – 904 Christchurch Men's Prison – 896 Hawke's Bay Regional Prison – 703 Auckland Prison – 679 Northland Regional Corrections Facility – 601 Whanganui Prison – 519 * as of March 31, 2025 Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke's Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier.
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Cameras on boats: Government confirms pro-industry fisheries changes
'A key feature of the reforms is more efficient and effective decision-making when setting sustainable catch limits. The changes mean specific fisheries will be able to have rules that automatically respond to changes in abundance for up to five years. 'These rules will be subject to the usual scientific evaluation and consultation processes but will allow for greater catch when there are more fish in the water and more responsive intervention when fisheries need to recover,' he said. Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones during his stand-up on the Wellington waterfront where he released a consultation document on 'the most significant reforms' of New Zealand's fisheries for decades. 12 February, 2025. NZME photograph by Mark Mitchell This change replaces the slower process currently in place, where each change must be assessed and considered separately, Jones said. Another significant change is the exclusion of footage captured by cameras on fishing boats from being requested under the OIA. 'The information from on-board cameras will continue to contribute to fisheries management but camera footage will not be subject to the Official Information Act 1982,' Jones said. 'Fishers won't need to worry about private or commercially sensitive footage being publicly released and either deliberately or unintentionally misconstrued.' While supported by industry, the proposals copped criticism in February when they were consulted on. The Green Party's oceans and fisheries spokesman Teanau Tuiono said in February the proposals 'seem to reward industry for overfishing, posing a significant threat to the sustainability and longevity of our oceans'. 'If the minister truly cared about sustainability he would ban bottom trawling and champion sustainable, adaptive fishing practices, which will increasingly be required in the context of climate change,' he said. An amendment bill will be introduced this year and people will have a further opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes during the select committee process. Jones is the former chairman of the seafood company Sealord and was a one-time member of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. He declared donations from the industry for the 2023 election.
Newsroom
4 hours ago
- Newsroom
Overseas investment reforms may create more uncertainty, law firms warn
The coalition Government's overhaul of the overseas investment regime could create more uncertainty for investors, law firms have warned. Associate Finance Minister and Act leader David Seymour is overseeing a suite of changes to the Overseas Investment Act, aimed at streamlining the existing system and bringing more foreign investment into the country.
