How they voted: Councillors split over Israel sanctions Bill
A message must be sent to the government to challenge the Israeli regime's occupation of Palestinian territories, Dunedin's representatives have decided.
However, dispatching it required a casting vote to break a 7-7 tie during a tense meeting, as a large crowd watched on.
The casting vote came from Dunedin City Council community services committee chairwoman Marie Laufiso yesterday and followed representations from residents and activists, questions from councillors and councillor speeches.
Public seating at the venue was easily filled and dozens of people watched a screen in the art gallery — sometimes applauding, jeering or laughing.
At one point, a man burst into the council chamber to shout "shame on you, you f...... cowards".
Cr Carmen Houlahan, who voted for the resolution, used part of her speech to call out such conduct as unacceptable.
The matter for debate was a notice of motion brought by Cr Christine Garey, advocating committee support for Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, and requesting Dunedin's mayor write to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters asking government MPs to back the Bill.
The Bill is supported by Opposition parties in Parliament.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich was one speaker who was against council involvement in such matters and said Cr Laufiso should not have accepted inclusion of the notice in the agenda.
Cr Steve Walker asked the most questions during the extensive public forum section and said people should not look away from the horrors occurring in Gaza.
"If you decide to turn your gaze away from the TV and news reels, then you are in some small way part of allowing a genocide to be carried out in collective silence."
This brought a point of order from Cr Houlahan, that was not upheld by Cr Laufiso.
Cr Brent Weatherall said he had noticed the scarves, T-shirts, signs and sunglasses of the public present.
"By all means, take your protest to Wellington," he said.
Most speakers at the public forum were in favour of Cr Garey's motion.
They included Rod and May Pik, who had come from Israel, and described it as a rogue state that should be held accountable.
Coalition of Ministers Supporting Israel representative Pastor Nigel Woodley said blame belonged with Hamas terrorists, rather than Israel.
Cr Jim O'Malley asked him "when it comes to holding back food and water and knowingly starving civilians, what would Jesus do?".
Other items on the community services committee meeting agenda were shelved, as councillors were going to run out of time to discuss them.
Council chief executive Sandy Graham said they would be picked up at other meetings.
At a glance
That the council's community services committee agrees to support the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill and requests that the mayor write to both the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs, asking that government MPs support the Bill.—
For (7): Crs Christine Garey, Steve Walker, David Benson-Pope, Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso, Mandy Mayhem, Jim O'Malley.
Against (7): Mayor Jules Radich, Crs Bill Acklin, Kevin Gilbert, Cherry Lucas, Lee Vandervis, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley.
Absent: Cr Sophie Barker.
Passed 8-7 on Cr Laufiso's casting vote.
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