The Wire with Caeden

The government has recently announced a 5 million dollar aid programme for Palestinians in Gaza through UNICEF and World Food Programme. This comes as funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is still halted from New Zealand, as the organisation is under investigation for staff involved in the October 7th Hamas attacks. Prior to halting this funding, New Zealand was contributing 1 million dollars annually to UNRWA, and with this new aid, the government has contributed a total of 15 million dollars since October through UNICEF, WFP, International Committee for Red Cross, to civilian humanitarian aid.

Several Palestinian advocacy groups in Aotearoa have been highly critical of the decision to cut UNRWA funding due to its direct link to civilians in Gaza. UNRWA has also stated that due to suspended funding from the UK and USA, they may be forced to cease operating in the Middle East by the end of the month. UNRWA not only runs schools and refugee camps across Gaza and The West Bank, but also Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. 

Rosetta spoke to John Minto, Chair of Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, about what the New Zealand government aid will mean, the importance of UNRWA, and issues that Palestinian advocacy groups in Aotearoa are noticing with media coverage of the situation in Gaza.

For our weekly catch-up with Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni, Caeden asked about the mood at Rātana and the expected mood at Waitangi, as well as the lack of MPs from the Pacific in this government. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Rātana and Pacific representation in government.

They also spoke to University of Auckland Lecturer Dr Treasa Dunworth and Palestine Solidairty Network’s John Minto about New Zealand’s obligation following the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel-Palestine.

Castor spoke to Lucette Hindin, a Lead Connector for Neighbours Aotearoa, about their yearly community initiative.

He also spoke to Professor Janet Hoek from the University of Otago about the influence of the tobacco industry on New Zealand politics.

Amnesty International has condemned the recent execution of Kenneth Smith in the US State of Alabama, and is calling for a complete moratorium on use of the death penalty.

As part of its Write for Rights Campaign, where every year people from 170 countries take action by writing letters, signing petitions, and more to call on governments to challenge injustices, Amnesty International is calling for another looming death penalty case in Alabama to be stopped.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Amnesty International Aotearoa, Senior Campaigner, David Vega about this.