Azaria Howell: Newstalk ZB reporter on whether New Zealand will move to recognise a Palestinian state

New Zealand's yet to finalise its position on recognising Palestine, despite recent moves by our key allies.

Chris Luxon says Cabinet's expected to make a final decision later this week.

Three of the Five Eyes members - Australia, the UK and Canada - have formally announced recognition of an independent state of Palestine.

Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says it's expected the coalition will come together to make a statement, and Winston Peters will likely deliver it by Sunday.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right, let's go to Azaria housinging political report of for
news talks. You'll be Azaria.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good evening, good evening. Good to be with you, Good
to be with you.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Two. Now, everyone's well, everyone but America recognizing Palestine as
a state and US Winston still pondering.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah, so that is the big question. Will New Zealand
recognize a Palestinian state? As you say, Foreign Minister Winston
Peters is in New York at the United Nations Leaders
Week that's ahead of the UN General Assembly, and mister
Peters is expected to make New Zealand's position on potential
formal recognition of a Palestinian state clear at that UN meeting.

(00:36):
As you say, in terms of our allies, we're seeing
quite a lot of progress from other countries on this.
British Prime Minister Sir Kiir Starmer has announced his government
does support a state of Palestine.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East.
We are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace
and a two stage solution that means a safe and
secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. At the moment
we have.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Neither, but arguably even more important for New Zealand is Australia.
They are making the same move.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
And this recognition being announced today in sync with our
international partners, the United Kingdom and Canada, means that three
of the Five Eyes nations are all making this decision today.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
And interesting that he spoke about the Five Eyes countries
there as another Five Eyes country is New Zealand. So
the two Anthony Albanezi, the Ossie Prime Minister referring to
their New Zealand and the United States, the latter very
firm in its support of Israel and speaking about Israel,
Its Prime Minister Benjamin nettan Yahoo says quote, I have
a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a

(01:50):
Palestinian state after the horrendous October seven massacre. You are
rewarding terror with an enormous prize. It's kind of similar
actually to what a party leader David Seymour has said
in the past about the matter, which was really that
we should not recognize a country that is holding hostages.
But Seymour got a bit of a telling off from
Winston Peters about those remarks.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
That was a good agreement and that's what he's broken.
I'm sorry, there is no time for novices.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
And just today within the past few hours, the Prime
Minister has confirmed he's spoken to act Leader David Seymour
after he gave his take on the matter last week.
Chris Luxson gave us some detail just now into what
that conversation looked like.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Winston speaking for us on foreign affairs and he's the
one that's leading the our cabinet through that position.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
We want to make sure we've got accountable ministers talking
to their portfolios and it's important everyone respects those lanes.
And this comes after David Seymour got a bit of
a telling off for writing a letter to the UN
defending the Regulatory Standards Bill. But back on the topic
of the Middle East, the Coalition will come to one
agreement on the matter as a government. That's the expectation.
It's also worth noting these countries that have supported formal

(02:58):
recognition are making it absolutely clear that any future governance
arrangement will not include terrorist group humas that is out
of the picture. So yes, New Zealand yet to confirm
and finalize its position on whether or not it will
make that formal recognition. The Prime Minister, though, does say
a preliminary decision has been made. Whinston Peters is expected

(03:20):
to speak at the un between Friday and Sunday in
terms of making a formal statement on behalf of New
Zealand on this matter. All eyes will be on New
York as that takes place.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
All right, Azariah. The more money, a bit of new
money and some acceleration.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
This is for school property investment, fixing up the classrooms. Yeah,
so this is an announcement from today. The government's announced
it will be accelerating four hundred and thirteen million dollars
of investment into school infrastructure. It's aimed at improving classrooms,
but also has a bit of a silver lining as
well in terms of a bit of another detail giving

(03:57):
more confidence to builders and trade. It includes two hundred
and fifty five million dollars of improvements on all isolated,
small and rural schools, estimated to be about half of
state schools. However, some of the budge, some of the
funding is from Budget twenty twenty four and is now
being able to be delivered. So while there is fifty
eight million dollars of new funding, about one hundred million

(04:19):
comes from Budget twenty four. Eighty million comes from the
Ministry of Education, baseline and one hundred and seventy five
million is brought forward funding. So Minister of Education Erica
Stanford has made the announcement in Auckland this afternoon with
the Prime Minister and she is promising quote, every single
school will get something. Well maintained classrooms are not a luxury,

(04:41):
they are a must have and they are a foundation
for a very strong education system. Plus it's also expected
to bring a much needed boost for the construction sector. There, Zara,
appreciate your time. It's aara how for politics.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
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