The Sunday Long Read - What Could The New Zealand Government Do About Genocide in Gaza?

10th August 2025

What Could The New Zealand Government Do About Genocide in Gaza?

Let me start by repeating something I have said several times before. To be against the criminal genocide the right-wing Israeli government is perpetrating on the people of Gaza, is not to be anti- semitic. It is not to be pro- Hamas. It is to be pro-human.

Let me also say it is my job, as a fourth estate journalist and documentary maker, to call governments to account, to ask uncomfortable questions and speak truth to power.

It is my view that our government needs to step up in its condemnation of the horror that is happening in Gaza, stop being an international bystander to genocide, support the South Africa vs Israel war crime allegations at the International Criminal Court.and impose trade and economic sanctions on Israel until it ceases its onslaught on the civilian Palestinian population of Gaza.

Which is why I have sent off three Official Information Act Inquires to two ministers and the Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund

The Minister for Foreign Affairs

My first OIA email has been sent to Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters.

It reads:

Dear Hon. Winston Peters,

I am an investigative documentary maker, journalist and podcaster based in Auckland.

I refer to your Ministerial statement to the House on the Middle East on 22 July 2025

You stated “..we have the horror of more and more innocent Palestinian civilians starving, being deprived of their basic needs, and being killed every day – because Israel’s military response to the events of October 7 2023 long ago ceased to be proportionate, reasonable or moral; and because Hamas continues to act with complete disregard for civilian life.

The international community is united in its revulsion to what is happening in Gaza. This horror must end. Too many lives have been lost. Too many people have been traumatised, polarised and embittered – ensuring that yet another generation of Israeli and Palestinian children are born into a situation of insufferable conflict and enmity.

That is why New Zealand has come together with Foreign Ministers from 27 other countries to state as clearly as we can that enough is enough. That this war must end now. That this suffering is intolerable.”

Given your clear moral position on the horrific situation in Gaza I wish to raise with you the issue of the New Zealand government's lack of support, thus far, for the allegation made on the 24th of May 2024, to the International Criminal Court by South Africa, on the Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip ( South Africa vs Israel)

See:

https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20250107-pre-01-00-en.pdf

Given that several countries including Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, Algeria,, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Egypt , Jordan, Colombia, Lebanon and Palestine, to name a few, have supported South Africa’s allegation to the court, please find below my list of requests for information under the Official Information Act (1982) .

Question 1:

Have you ,as Minister of Foreign Affairs specifically stated anywhere that genocide is happening in Gaza?

If so, please provide the statement or document within which that specific assertion is contained. If not please explain why you have not produced such a genocide statement?

Question 2:

Why has the New Zealand government not supported the South Africa vs Israel case to the International Court under Article 63 of the statute, or filed its own allegation of Genocide under the Convention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide with the International Criminal Court of Justice? Please provide any, and all documents, emails or memos that demonstrate the New Zealand government has carefully considered the two options stated in the sentence above.

Question 3:

Why did the New Zealand Government support the Ukraine vs Russia allegation of Genocide under the Convention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide with the the International Criminal Court of Justice, on the 28th of July 2022 Under Article 63 in reference to Ukraine vs Russia (The Document Number is 182-20220729-PRE-01-00-EN ) but has not supported the South Africa vs Israel allegation?

Please provide copies of any consultation documents of any sort including emails and memos you have relied upon to reach your decision, to date, to not lodge a supportive allegation for South Africa vs Israel or formulate one on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

Question 4:

What goods and services has the New Zealand government purchased from Israeli companies or organsiations since November 2023? Please supply a list giving the nature and value of each purchase or procurement.

Question 5:

The Russian Sanction Act was passed in 2022. Do you plan to table a Sanctions Israel Act? If not, why not?

Ngā mihi

Bryan Bruce

Investigative documentary maker, podcaster and journalist

Auckland

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund

One of the things we could all do that would not require consulting a minister is to pressure The Guardians of the Superannuation Fund ( which is a Crown entity) to divest their investments with Israeli software and IT companies.

According to one reported estimate, the Funds latest portfolio disclosure reveals more than $29.5 million worth of investments in five Israeli software and IT companies and nearly $6 million invested in “Israeli sovereign bonds.” But what is the actual investment situation?

Also, given that last September 124 states ( including New Zealand) voted in the UN General Assembly to call for an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, it seems to me The Guardians of The New Zealand Superannuation Fund could be in breach of Section 61 (d) of the Superannuation and Retirement Income Act which states they must engage in:

“ethical investment, including policies, standards, or procedures for avoiding prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community..”

So, I have sent an OIA request to the Guardians of The New Zealand Superfund. Here it is

enquiries@nzsuperfund.co.nz

Kia ora,

My name is Bryan Bruce. I am an investigative documentary maker, podcaster and journalist based in Auckland.

Under the Official Information Act (1982) I request the following information

1. What investments (if any) does the New Zealand Superannuation Fund have in Israeli based companies? Please list the companies and the value of the investments.

2. What investment does the New Zealand Superannuation Fund have in Israeli sovereign bonds? If so, what is the dollar amount of the investment.

3. Given the forced starvation of Palestinian people living in Gaza by the Israeli government, please explain why The Guardians of The New Zealand Superannuation Fund are not in breach of section 61 (d) of the Superannuation and Retirement Income Act (2001) given the widespread condemnation by 124 countries , including New Zealand, which voted last September in the UN General Assembly to call for an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

4. Have The Guardians of The New Zealand Superannuation Fund recently divested itself of investments in Israel for ethical reasons? If not ,do you intend to divest the Fund of these investments. Again if not, why not? Please supply all documents, emails, or memos in which the ethical investment in Israeli companies and sovereign bond have been discussed.

Ngā mihi

Bryan Bruce

Investigative documentary maker, journalist and podcaster

Auckland

The Finance Minister

Lastly, I have sent an OIA To Finance Minister Willis which reads:

Dear Hon Nicola Willis,

My name is Bryan Bruce. I am an investigative documentary maker, podcaster and journalist based in Auckland. My questions to you refer to the ethics of investing in Israeli sovereign bonds.

Question 1:

Is it correct that The New Zealand Superannuation Fund holds almost $6 million in Israeli Sovereign bonds?

Under Section 64 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, I note you , as Finance Mininster, have the power to issue a non-binding ministerial direction to the fund’s guardians directing them to consider divesting from Israeli sovereign bonds to avoid “prejudice to New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible member of the world community”.

Given New Zealand was one of 124 states that voted in the UN General Assembly last September to call for an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation of East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, my further OIA questions therefore are:

Question 2:

Have you had any discussions with The Guardians of the NZ Superannuation Fund with regard to the ethics of investing in Israeli sovereign bonds?

Question 3:

If so, what was the view you expressed to them and what was their response? Please give dates and supply any documents, including emails and memos in support of your reply.

Ngā mihi

Bryan Bruce

Investigative documentary maker, journalist and podcaster

Auckland

The Official information Act states it should take 20 working days to receive replies. I will let you know as soon as I receive them.

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