New Zealand–Palestine relations

New Zealand–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations between New Zealand and the State of Palestine. New Zealand does not recognise Palestine as a country.

New Zealand supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute.

20th century
During World War I, around 6000 New Zealand soldiers fought in the Sinai and Palestine campaign, a British campaign to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Levant, leading to the establishment of British-controlled Mandatory Palestine in 1920.

In 1988, the government of New Zealand recognized the Palestine Information Office as the official representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization based in Canberra. New Zealand's embassy in Turkey is responsible for Palestinian affairs.

21st century
In late November 2012, New Zealand voted in support of a resolution to grant the State of Palestine "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations. The New Zealand representative said that its vote was "consistent with its long-held support for the aspirations of the Palestinian people." New Zealand also reiterated Israel's right to exist in security and a two-state solution but maintainted that recognition of Palestnian statehood was a separate issue.

In 2018, New Zealand singer Lorde called off a tour of Israel following pressure from two Palestinian activists in New Zealand. The activists were fined by a court in Israel for their actions which they refused to pay.

In May 2021, the Green Party with the support of Te Pāti Māori introduced a resolution calling on New Zealand to recognise Palestine. It failed as it was not supported by the Labour Party and ACT Party.

Prior to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the then governing New Zealand Labour Party had promised to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine if elected, but later walked back on that decision. In April 2024, the opposition Labour called for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood.

In May 2024, New Zealand voted in favor of a resolution to enhance the Palestinian role in the United Nations. The resolution passed in the United Nations General Assembly with the support of 143 countries. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that New Zealand supported enhancing Palestine's status at the UN but reiterated that "this does not amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood."

Israel–Hamas war
The New Zealand government condemned the Hamas attack that led to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and defended Israel's right to defend itself. It called for a ceasefire and asked Israel to abide by international law. New Zealand also announced NZ$10 million for Palestine and Israel. Chris Hipkins, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, called for a ceasefire while other parties did not.

Pro-Palestinian protestors in New Zealand sprayed red paint on the United States consulate. A pro-Israel rally led by Destiny Church clashed with pro-Palestinian protestors outside Parliament in December 2023.

In late January 2024, New Zealand suspended its annual NZ$1 million aid contribution to UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) following allegations that several UNRWA workers had participated in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. This followed a decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to review New Zealand's aid to UNRWA in light of the allegations.

In late February 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that the New Zealand Government had designated the entire Hamas organisation as a terrorist entity. Previous governments had only designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. In addition, the New Zealand Government banned several extremist Israeli settlers who had committed violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

According to Māori Television's Te Ao Māori News, New Zealand approved more visas for Israelis than Palestinians during the conflict. In March 2024, New Zealand Arab Association spokesperson Katrina Mitchell Kouttab urged the Government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians to leave Gaza similar to the humanitarian visa programme created in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In early June 2024, Foreign Minister Peters announced that New Zealand would resume its annual NZ$1 million funding to UNRWA.

Diplomatic trips
Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, visited Ramallah in February 2010.

In 2015, Dr Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, visited New Zealand. He held meetings with Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. New Zealand drafted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling Israel to halt building illegal settlements in Palestinian territories. Jim McClay was appointed the representative of New Zealand to the Palestinian Authority.

Greg Lewis, New Zealand's Special Representative to Palestine, met Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of Palestine, in Ramallah in August 2022.