
FIANZ Condemns Genocidal Killing Of Palestinians In Gaza, Calls On NZ Govt To Uphold ICJ Ruling And End Complicity
Press Release – FIANZ
As a signatory to the Genocide Convention and a long-standing advocate for human rights, New Zealand must now act decisively and with integrity.
Wellington, New Zealand — The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) strongly condemns the ongoing genocidal actions perpetrated against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We mourn the devastating loss of life and the unprecedented destruction inflicted upon a besieged civilian population, including thousands of women and children who have been killed, maimed, or made homeless.
The scale and nature of the violence—marked by indiscriminate bombings and systematic targeting of health workers, aid workers, hospitals and refugee camps, and the blockade of food, water, medicine and other essential humanitarian supplies—amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. These actions constitute a blatant violation of international law and the most basic principles of human decency said Ibrar Sheik, President of FIANZ.
We call on the New Zealand Government to honour and support the recent ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which found a plausible case of genocide committed by the Israeli regime against Palestinians in Gaza. As a signatory to the Genocide Convention and a long-standing advocate for human rights, New Zealand must now act decisively and with integrity.
We urge that the New Zealand Government:
Cease all diplomatic, trade and technological cooperation with the Zionist regime of Israel until it ends its occupation, lifts the siege on Gaza, and complies fully with international law.
Support international efforts to deliver immediate and unhindered humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and to hold those responsible for war crimes accountable.
Join the growing global call for a permanent ceasefire and the recognition of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, freedom, and return.
Accelerate its efforts towards establishing Palestinian state as the part of two state solution.
As New Zealanders, we believe in justice, compassion, and standing on the right side of history. Silence in the face of genocide is complicity. FIANZ joins the voices of conscience—locally and globally—in standing with the people of Palestine' said Anwar Ghani, Chair of National and International Relations of FIANZ.
We urge all New Zealanders, civil society organisations, and faith communities to raise their voices, demand accountability, and advocate for peace rooted in justice.
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) is the national representative body of Muslims in Aotearoa New Zealand, advocating for justice, compassion, and unity.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

1News
2 hours ago
- 1News
Kāinga Ora to use wool carpet in new state homes
Kāinga Ora has announced it will use wool carpet in new state homes from July, following a directive that government agencies use wool in the construction and refurbishment of their buildings. The change in procurement rules, to make wool the preferred option in government buildings, was a directive to about 130 agencies in April and takes effect from July. On Wednesday, the state housing provider announced it would follow suit, with 4500 new state houses expected to be fitted out in the next three years. The return of wool carpets to state homes was welcomed by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson at Fieldays the same day. "The decision is great news for sheep farmers, and all the New Zealanders whose jobs and incomes are tied to the fortunes of our world-leading wool industry," Willis said. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds including passengers stuck on ferry overnight, new flights to Sydney coming, and the weirdest things we leave in Ubers. (Source: 1News) She said the Government wanted wool producers to have more opportunities to supply woollen products to the construction industry "wherever practical and appropriate". "Kāinga Ora's new supplier agreement was made possible because the agency chose to re-open an initially nylon-only carpet tender and give wool a chance to compete. "I'm told woollen carpet manufacturers responded very strongly to that opportunity and that the new carpet supply agreements come with no additional cost." The new procurement requirements covered government-owned buildings that cost $9 million or more, and refurbishments of more than $100,000. A spokesperson said the total value of the Kāinga Ora contract was commercially sensitive and couldn't be disclosed. Nicola Willis speaks to media at Parliament on May 6. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT They said some contracts for carpet in homes had already been let, but under the new supply agreement newly contracted fit-outs would be met through the wool-carpet supply contract. Where nylon carpet had already been installed in existing homes Kāinga Ora would continue to use nylon carpet for single room or smaller patch repairs. Willis said the message was clear. "When wool was put back on the table it more than held its own, delivering value for taxpayers and a win for sheep farmers." She said the new policy directed government agencies to identify opportunities to use woollen products, and to properly consider a range of factors in procurement including whole-of-life cost, sustainability and health benefits. "We're leveraging government spending to back the wool industry and the New Zealand economy. I hope private businesses will follow our lead." A new Kāinga Ora home in Richmond, August 2023. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee (Source: ADVERTISEMENT She previously said natural qualities allowed wool to dampen sound and absorb pollutants, while woollen fibres contributed to healthier indoor environments by naturally regulating humidity and improving air quality. Patterson said the move continued to deliver on a New Zealand First and National Party coalition agreement to prefer woollen fibres in government buildings. "Woollen fibres create safer, healthier and more sustainable living environments for families." He said the sector contributed $549m to the economy in the financial year ending 2024 from exporting processed and unprocessed wool products. "The Government is determined to help lift the fortunes of the strong wool sector in supporting our sheep farmers."


Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
A Bold Dream Gets A Cut As Predator Free 2050 Ltd Is Disestablished
Article – RNZ Predator Free 2050 was hit by a budget blow, and now the 'moonshot' goal is under threat, for The Detail The environmental sector worries that the future of a predator-free Aotearoa is in jeopardy after the Government swung the axe in the latest budget. It was billed as a 'moonshot' for New Zealand's environment – a bold, world-leading goal launched by Sir John Key in 2016, aimed at eradicating rats, possums and stoats from our islands by 2050. The vision has been clear – bring back birdsong to every valley, protect the flightless kiwi, and restore what once thrived. But today, the future of Predator Free 2050 looks uncertain. Predator Free 2050 Ltd, the Crown-owned company established to drive and fund large-scale eradication and breakthrough science, is now being disestablished, as announced as part of Budget 2025. Funding for the company will cease by the end of the year, with its responsibilities shifted to the Department of Conservation (DOC), which the government says will reduce duplication, increase efficiency and save about $12 million. 'People are now worried for this programme,' Newsroom environment editor David Williams tells The Detail. 'They say without ongoing funding, we will not only not go forward, but we will go backwards. This programme needs funding, and that's up to the government.' The government insists the broader goal of predator eradication remains. But Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, chief executive of WWF New Zealand, is not entirely convinced. 'New Zealanders believe in the Predator Free 2050 dream, and we want the government to get behind them too. But I'm not sure this will happen. 'I've not been seeing a lot of enthusiasm for environmental outcomes from this government, full stop. We describe the government's policy agenda as a war on nature, and I think it is disappointing that a previous National government got so strongly behind this moonshot objective, and this government does not seem to care so much.' Both Williams and Kingdon-Bebb say the country has 'overwhelmingly' backed the Predator Free 2050 initiative, allowing it to 'come a long way, in a relatively short time'. Already, predator-elimination projects cover more than 800,000 hectares. 'This is a big amount of land,' says Williams. 'And the goal is big … but they have done well. 'They also said they wanted to fund scientific research, and 15 or 20 projects have already had money to try and sort this problem out. 'A lot of community groups have latched on to this – someone said to me that this is the one conservation project that has captured the imagination of New Zealanders more than any other.' Kingdon-Bebb agrees. 'It has certainly captured the hearts and minds like nothing else,' she says. 'We have seen an explosion of community trapping groups and landscape-scale projects over the last nine years, which has been amazing … now I feel the government is taking its foot off the pedal. 'What is apparent is that the government has had a look at the delivery model of the programme as a whole, which is complex. 'So, if it is the case that the government has reviewed it and determined that a crown-owned corporation is not the best delivery methodology, I can accept that. 'DOC has a lot of capability … and perhaps it is appropriate for DOC to be coordinating this work, perhaps there was duplication of roles and functions and costs. 'But where I would be concerned is that in the wider scale of what has happened in the last two budgets, the Department of Conservation will see, in total, about 300 million dollars in savings exacted from it. 'So, it does beg the question whether a very stretched department can pick up the leadership of this initiative in a way we would want to see it done.' Critics say that move will slow momentum, bury innovation under bureaucracy and confuse local projects already stretched thin. They also argue that across the country, hundreds of predator-free community groups, many driven by volunteers, will be left wondering what support will look like without the company's funding, research backing and strategic oversight. But the government insists the predator-free projects and contracts funded by the company are not affected and it is committed to the predator-free 2050 goal.


Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
ACT Launches Petition To Dump Te Mana o te Wai
Press Release – ACT New Zealand Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested, says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. ACT is at Fieldays this week, garnering farmers' support for the campaign to scrap the vague, spiritual concept of Te Mana o te Wai and allow regional councils to set their own freshwater standards by scrapping national bottom lines. The party has launched a petition at and is collecting signatures on the ground. 'All Te Mana o te Wai achieves is to drive up costs on users and add uncertainty and ambiguity to consenting. ACT believes the Government should scrap Te Mana o te Wai and national bottom lines, allowing regional councils to set their own standards,' says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. 'The vague concept of 'Te Mana o te Wai' replaces scientific benchmarks with a subjective idea of the mana of the water that leads to co-governance and unequal treatment based on who someone's ancestors were. 'Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested. 'Kiwi farmers are the best in the world. They're forecast to return $59.9 billion in export revenue and make up 10% of GDP. We simply can't afford to burden them with spiritual malarky dreamed up in Wellington. 'It means iwi have a right of veto over how water is used. The National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 requires Te Mana o te Wai to apply to the consenting of all projects involving freshwater management. Consenting is now subject to consideration of mauri, or the 'life-force' of water. 'It has led to water users making large one-off and on-going payments for 'cultural monitoring' services which do nothing for the environment but add costs to consumer and business power bills. 'Is requiring farmers to comply with a spiritual concept going to make them farm better? Of course not. It means they'll have to employ a cultural consultant and waste time and money that could instead be spent improving their farming practices. That's what happens when we regulate water quality based on superstition not science. 'Farmers just want to grow food and look after their land, incorporating spiritual concepts isn't necessary for them to do that. 'ACT is dedicated to real change. We cannot continue with a policy that burdens our farmers unnecessarily. We campaigned on a complete overhaul of the NPS-FM to remove subjective concepts and ensure that our freshwater management is scientifically sound and adapted to the needs of local communities. 'New Zealanders never voted for co-governance. Yet under Te Mana o te Wai, it's being imposed on every dam, drain, and ditch. We need to bring common sense back and let farmers farm.'