Latest news with #UnlawfulOccupationofPalestineSanctionsBill
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Councillors slam mayor's ‘outrageous' letter about Israel
"Is it appropriate for council to be requesting leaders of the government to ask their own MPs to support a minor opposition party's Bill?" — Jules Radich. File photo: Peter McIntosh Dunedin's mayor has been criticised as "infantile" and "not fit" to lead by city councillors over his letter to the government backing sanctions against Israel. Mayor Jules Radich defended his letter and was supported yesterday by some around the council table. Councillors narrowly passed a motion at last month's community services committee meeting to support Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill. Chairwoman Marie Laufiso's casting vote was required to break a 7-7 tie and pass the motion. Mr Radich, who voted against it, was directed to write to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters asking government MPs to back the Bill. Cr Christine Garey brought the motion to the meeting. Yesterday, she said she was "outraged" by the letter Mr Radich wrote. In it, he detailed the vote's outcome and how councillors had voted — "absolutely not the norm", Cr Garey said. "To put all that detail in was outrageous. It just undermines the whole idea." In the letter, Mr Radich said the situation in the Middle East was of great concern to many Dunedin residents. "There are also many who do not think that international relations are the business of local government," he wrote. Cr Garey said the mayor's role meant ensuring council decisions were carried out. "His job, in this case, was to write a letter — it's not that difficult. "He is not fit to be mayor if he: A, cannot understand that and B, if he can't do that job." Mr Radich said his letter responded to the council's wishes and was "in accordance" with its resolution. "The plight of the Palestinian people is of great concern to many in Dunedin — myself included and I voiced that in the meeting." The letter included the view of "half the council" and "many of the community" that it was not the business of a local authority to intervene in national politics or international relations. "Is it appropriate for council to be requesting leaders of the government to ask their own MPs to support a minor opposition party's Bill?" he asked. "Having said that, I respect the democratic process and the will of council." Cr Mandy Mayhem said Mr Radich's letter was "disappointing and embarrassing" and Cr Steve Walker said the letter spoke volumes about the "infantile, petulant and self-serving attitude of someone unfit to lead our city". It was an "insult" to the council, the Dunedin Palestinian community and residents who supported the motion, Cr David Benson-Pope said. "The letter is completely inappropriate but sadly yet another example of the author's failure to understand the role of the mayoralty." Cr Carmen Houlahan said it was clear Mr Radich was "not keen" on the outcome. Cr Bill Acklin said the mayor had explained the motion was passed on a casting vote, which was appropriate when councillors were "forced to take a side". Cr Andrew Whiley said the letter was factual and covered the resolution. The Otago Daily Times has seen two emails sent to Mr Radich yesterday, from residents critical of him and the letter. In reply, Cr Lee Vandervis said the disapproval was "virtue signalling".
Otago Daily Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
How they voted: Councillors split over Israel sanctions Bill
Carmen Houlahan. File photo: Gregor Richardson 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.
Otago Daily Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Man apologises after outburst during debate on lobbying for Bill
Cherry Lucas. PHOTO: ODT FILES A man who interrupted a Dunedin City Council committee meeting with an outburst during a debate about Israel has apologised. Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas was speaking at the community services committee meeting on Wednesday, when a man burst in and shouted at councillors, using an expletive and accusing them of being cowards. Council chief executive Sandy Graham said the conduct was unacceptable. "We understand the issue discussed [on Wednesday] is incredibly emotive for people across our community, but that is no justification for the behaviour from one member of the public," she said. "Councillors and our staff are entitled to a safe work space and members of the public need to respect this even when difficult and emotive issues are being debated." Ms Graham said the man apologised to her and to Cr Lucas. Security guards were at the meeting, as they normally were, and there would be a debrief, Ms Graham said. Cr Lucas said she was quite taken aback by the incident, but she appreciated the person reaching out to apologise. The committee was debating whether it should lobby for government MPs to support Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill. The resolution, which asked Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich to write to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters on the subject, passed on committee chairwoman Marie Laufiso's casting vote, after a 7-7 tie. A series of speakers during the meeting's public forum made arguments about putting pressure on Israel and a large crowd — in the chamber and nearby gallery — watched the council debate. Cr Bill Acklin said during the debate he had observed disrespectful conduct. "I'm talking about elected members around this table, and I'm talking about submitters that had already spoken," he said. "If somebody was saying something that didn't agree with their narrative, they were chuckling away and whispering to each other and shaking their heads — that's disrespect."
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
DCC to consider official support for Israel sanctions Bill
A Dunedin City councillor is urging her colleagues to support a government Bill which would impose sanctions against Israel. Next week, elected officials will considered a motion from Cr Christine Garey, asking for the council to support Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick's Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill. Cr Garey's motion also requests Mayor Jules Radich write to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, asking government MPs to support the Bill. It would impose sanctions in response to the "presence of Israel ... in the Occupied Palestinian Territory", which the United Nations deemed to be unlawful. Cr Garey said it was the council's role to advocate for the Dunedin community. "There'll be people in the city ... who will wonder, 'what has this got to do with us?'," she said. "Our New Zealand Palestinian community, and the community in Dunedin, they are traumatised — they are beyond grief." The council had previously called for a ceasefire in Gaza and advocated for special humanitarian visas to be extended to the families of New Zealand's Palestinian community. Dunedin city councillor Christine Garey hopes her fellow elected members will back her motion for the council to support a Bill sanctioning Israel. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH She said she applauded the government's recent sanctioning of two far-right Israeli ministers; "however, it's not enough". "There's been this shift in attitude from our government politicians ... it feels like there's momentum," she said. All opposition parties supported the Bill, and support from six government MPs was needed for it to pass. Earlier in the week, councillors heard from two Dunedin residents who urged them to support the bill. Dunedin for Justice in Palestine member Anna Knight said there was "clear precedent" for the Bill and the council had a duty to advocate and protect its constituents affected by the war. Dunedin Jewish woman Kathryn Goodman said Israel was "violating all Jewish ethics". "We have the precedent to be able to discourage the occupation — that would hit them in the wallet, and that is what the sanction bill is about." Councillors will consider the motion at Wednesday's community services committee meeting. Last year, Environment Canterbury and Nelson and Christchurch city councils voted to boycott businesses which operated in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Palestine Forum Of New Zealand Calls For Safe Passage Of Madleen And Urgent Sanctions Against Israel
The Palestine Forum of New Zealand strongly condemns the violent interception of the Madleen, a civilian aid vessel attempting to deliver essential humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza, by the Israeli military. We demand the immediate safe passage of the vessel and call upon the New Zealand Government to urgently implement meaningful sanctions against Israel for its ongoing war crimes and illegal occupation of Palestine. 'The Madleen was carrying life-saving aid to a population enduring unimaginable suffering under Israel's illegal siege. Its interception is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct attack on humanitarian principles,' said a spokesperson for the Palestine Forum of New Zealand. The unlawful blockade of Gaza — now in its 18th year — has turned the region into what human rights organisations have described as the world's largest open-air prison. The systematic denial of aid, food, water, fuel, and medical supplies is part of Israel's ongoing campaign of collective punishment against the Palestinian people. Palestine Forum of New Zealand reiterates the following urgent demands: Immediate safe passage for the Madleen and all humanitarian vessels to Gaza. The New Zealand Government is to impose targeted sanctions against Israel, including an end to military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation. Support for the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill and pressure on Parliament to prioritise it for debate. Active support for international legal mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity. 'Aotearoa cannot remain silent while innocent people are bombed, starved, and denied medical care. New Zealand has a proud history of standing on the side of justice — from opposing apartheid in South Africa to advocating for nuclear-free policies. It's time our government showed the same moral courage for Palestine,' the spokesperson added. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand stands in unwavering solidarity with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Madleen crew, and the people of Gaza. It will continue to amplify the call for justice, dignity, and the right of return for all Palestinians.
