6 Haratua 2026
6 May 2026

Newsletter No 239

Items in this newsletter

New Items

Nationwide rallies/marches/vigils this week
“Uplifting and energising” – PSNA National Meeting in Rotorua last weekend
Time for NZ government to call-in Israeli ambassador after bashing of NZ citizens
Something to do with a single click…
Global Sumud Flotilla – keep up with the latest events here
A few pics from around the country this week
Another petition calling for Israel’s expulsion from the Eurovision Song Contest
Forever wars – new song and video
BDS movement reports on NZ Superfund High Court win for PSNA
Uncovering Reparations - Lessons from Palestine and South Africa
MLN minisodes
When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words, and Wounds of Palestine – Francesca Albanese
West Bank Access Restrictions - New Map and Fact
“Put your soul on your hand and walk” – film screenings
Important stories this week

Regular items

Join the ICC Six watch
MPs Complicit with Genocide
Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!

Nationwide rallies/marches/MP protests/vigils this week

To view events around Aotearoa:

We have an events page on our website as well as a Facebook events page

PSNA Website events page:

You can find it here – www.PSNA.nz/Events

The QR code for the PSNA website events page is this:

It is updated on Wednesday afternoon and ongoing as events are notified to us. Please check back on Friday afternoon to see if there has been Additions or Changes.

Or go to the PSNA Homepage – www.PSNA.nz. Scroll down to the button “For a list of events Nationwide, please click here - Check back often for updates”. Click the button. Check back on Friday for any moves, adds or changes

PSNA Facebook events page

Go to the PSNA Facebook events page here

There are more than 30 events around the Motu this week.

“Uplifting and energising” – PSNA National Meeting in Rotorua last weekend

PSNA’s national meeting in Rotorua was an uplifting and energising event with Palestine solidarity activists from around the country meeting to review our work and plan our big campaigns for the coming year.

It was held at the beautiful Apumoana Marae with mana-whenua and local indigenous-led group Mataara Mai hosting over 70 reps from large and small centres from the far south to the far north.

The meeting was held in the wake of several important wins for the movement, particularly our successful legal challenge where the High Court found the NZ Superfund policies which allowed them to invest in companies committing war crimes in Palestine were “unreasonable and unlawful”. , the meeting decided on bold campaigning on several fronts.

The PSNA National Committee recommended important steps in “succession planning” through promoting new faces into leadership positions in PSNA. As a result Christchurch activist Ben Vorderegger was elected National Chair while Dunedin’s Rinad Tamimi was elected National Spokesperson. Previous Co-Chair John Minto was elected as National Campaign Co-Ordinator and Co-Chair Mahar Nazzal is pursuing new initiatives to promote and advocate for Palestinian culture and heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand.`

The National Committee now comprises:

Ben Vorderegger (National Chair), Rinad Tamimi (National Spokesperson), Anne Hare (National Secretary), John Minto (National Campaign Co-ordinator), Neil Scott (National Admin Secretary) Don Carson (National Communications Co-ordinator) Brandon Johnstone (National Education Sector Co-ordinator) Leeann Wahanui Peters, Dale Frew, Josephine Varghese, May Pik and Eliot Forrest.

**New PSNA National Chairperson Ben Vorderegger**

Ben came to national attention when he challenged the US Ambassador meeting with National MP Gerry Brownlee at a Christchurch coffee shop two years ago. You can watch the video here

Rinad’s first media release as National Spokesperson is below:

Time for NZ government to call-in Israeli ambassador after bashing of NZ citizens

PSNA Media release
5 May 2026:

PSNA has demanded the government follow through its demands that Israel complies with international law, after New Zealanders were captured in international waters in the Mediterranean and beaten by the Israeli military.

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Spokesperson Rinad Tamimi says the New Zealand government was very explicit in its recent warnings to Israel that New Zealand did not expect a repeat of Israeli forces brutally capturing New Zealanders in international waters while they were trying to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

“Anyone who has seen the pictures of Invercargill resident Julien Blondel’s face or the reports of Jay O’Connor suffering from concussion and a likely broken rib will know that once more Israel has called the New Zealand government’s bluff.”

**Invercargill’s Julien Blondel after beatings from Israeli soldiers**

“The Global Sumud Aid Flotilla’s sole intention is to deliver aid to Palestinians still under Israeli attack and starvation in Gaza,” Rinad Tamimi says.

“The world is looking at the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Iran. But the situation for Palestinians in Gaza is no less dire than when the ceasefire there was meant to have started last October but Israel continues its daily killing of mainly women and children”

“The volume of food is insufficient and lacking nutrition. It is incredibly expensive. Promised tents haven’t arrived. Medicine has run out. Reconstruction hasn’t started. Israel is still expanding its Yellow-Line no-go zone.”

Rinad Tamimi says she knows the New Zealand government has already proved it doesn’t care about Palestinians in Gaza. But she says our government cannot avoid its responsibility to protect New Zealanders going about lawful business.

“The government can’t simply opt out of its duties to its citizens by telling them it’s too dangerous to try helping Palestinians in Gaza.”

“Israel has killed people on flotillas before. It has captured New Zealanders and brutalised them previously. Now it has done it again.”

Rinad Tamimi says the least step New Zealand can do is issue a formal rebuke by calling-in the Israeli ambassador.

“The ambassador has been informed of our government’s stated concerns, and New Zealand’s bluff has been called.”

“The ambassador should be expelled as far as I’m concerned. But if it was good enough for John Key’s government to reprimand Israel through a formal rebuke, then why can’t Winston Peters do at least the same.” (Video of John Key in August 2014 on the Israeli ambassador)

Rinad Tamimi
National Spokesperson

Something you can do now with just a single click…

Send this note to the Prime Minister

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hon Chris Luxon
C.Luxon@ministers.govt.nz

Kia ora Mr Luxon,

It’s time to demand accountability for the bashing of New Zealanders by Israel’s genocidal thugs.

These kiwis are doing the humanitarian job you should be doing. The least you can do is hold Israel to account for the murder and beating of humanitarian workers. We expect you to stand up for them and us.

And after you’ve told the Israeli Ambassador to stop its beatings and the genocide in Gaza – tell him to pack his bags and end Israeli representation in this country.

(your name)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Click Here to send.

Please consider Blind Carbon Copying (BCC) to Admin@PSNA.nz so we can see how many emails are being sent.

Global Sumud Flotilla – keep up with the latest events here

See the Global Sumud Flotilla website + boat tracker

Follow the Aotearoa Delegation of the Flotilla on Instagram

Wellington journalist Eugene Doyle writes After Israel’s brutal attack on Kiwis our government does nothing.

Spain has demanded the release of two of its citizens who were on the Flotilla and who are still being held by Israel

The Israeli military establishment is already devising ways to deal with future Flotilla activists to limit damage to Israel's image.

More here

A few pics from around the country this week

**Some of the attendees at a Blenheim public meeting when PSNA’s John Minto spoke last week**

**Roger Fowlers wife Lyn and family attended the Tribute to Roger at the PSNA National Meeting**

**Heading out to leaflet every letterbox in Kaikoura… and received strong, positive responses**

Forever wars – new song and video

BDS movement reports on NZ Superfund High Court win for PSNA

Website: https://bdsmovement.net/news/New-Zealand-National-Super-Fund-Ethical-Criteria

Social Media:

Uncovering Reparations - Lessons from Palestine and South Africa

Where: Online (Zoom) - Link will be provided after completing registration form
When: 8th of May
Time: 4am NZ time!

About Tshepo Madlingozi Tshepo is the Commissioner of the South Africa Human Rights Commission. Trained in law and sociology, he is a scholar-activist whose work focuses on decolonization, reparative justice, human rights, and participatory democracy. In 2024, the President of South Africa appointed Madlingozi as a full-time Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), an independent constitutional body. At the SAHRC, he is responsible for the Anti-racism, Education, and Equality key areas.

About Lubnah Shomali
Lubnah is a Palestinian activist and has worked with BADIL since 2012. She aims to advance a rights-based decolonial framework and solution for Palestine, centering the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to self-determination and return, and is responsible for BADIL’s donor relations, fund development, and legal and international advocacy.

Register your place here

Movement for liberation from the Nakba (MLN)

MLN has produced a series of “minisodes” (mini episodes) to highlight key aspects of the Palestinian struggle

Episode four features Dr. Chandra Muzaffar and is titled “Moral Collapse and the Crisis of Global Justice ”
Part 1: https://youtu.be/x42YCIYbUwU
Part 2: https://youtu.be/trMoLmoLkEI

When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words, and Wounds of Palestine – Francesca Albanese

Francesca Albanese’s new book reviewed here

West Bank Access Restrictions - New Map and Fact sheet

From OCHA (the UN office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

A new fact sheet and an updated version of our West Bank Access Restrictions Map, based on a comprehensive survey carried out by our field teams in December 2025.

The key findings include:

925 obstacles across the West Bank (the highest number on our 20-year record)
At least 459 obstacles block or hinder access to main roads
Over 120 new road gates installed in 2025 (standalone or as part of checkpoints)
The 712-km-long Barrier (64% built) remains the single largest obstacle
3.4 million Palestinians affected.

Through the interactive map, you can zoom into specific areas, display layers of your choice, and export customized, printable versions

“Put your soul on your hand and walk”

Details of screenings around the country are here

Important stories this week

Editor’s picks

Rocket Lab is a launchpad for war here
Why Iran’s Oil Infrastructure Is Not Exploding Like Trump Said It Would here
Demand our governments cut ties with Palantir and Peter Thiel now here

Regular items

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Join the ICC Six Watch

Share the poster on social media – keep alert – email ICC6@PSNA.nz if you find where any of these six genocide deniers are due to show up.

Keep spreading the message about the Genocide Hotline!

Remember possible action for local groups

For groups affiliated to PSNA we suggest the following actions could be taken at any time in support of this campaign

Asking your local backpacker accommodation to display the poster and draw it to the attention of any Israeli soldiers here on “rest and recreation” from the genocide.
Pasting the hotline poster (use the version in this newsletter which includes a contact email) around the vicinity of backpacker venues in your local area. This is already happening in some areas.
Hand out flyers to people in the vicinity of your local backpackers
Contact us on the hotline if you come across Israeli soldiers

Merchandise for sale - please check with your local branch and/or contact us Merchandise@PSNA.nz

**Recent new material – leaflets and stickers are free the bucket hats and caps are $25**

If your local branch does not have what you are after we are ready to mail to you any of our t-shirts, long ($35) and short ($30) sleeved, hoodies ($45) bumper stickers ($3), Tino/Palestine pins ($3) flags large & medium ($10 or $7) and other items plus postage.

The watermelon and the fist stickers will be back in stock early next week.

See more on the PSNA website here.

Reminder: Annual Dates for Palestine Solidarity

28 Mar – 4 Apr Israel Apartheid Week

30 Mar Land Day Palestine

5 Apr Palestinian Childs Day

9 Apr Deir Yassin massacre - Irgun Terrorism - 107-120 Palestinian men, women and children massacred

17 Apr Palestinian Prisoners Day

11 May World Kufiya Day

15 May Nakba Day – marking the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Palestine in 1948

5 Jun Nakba Day - Start of 1967 War - Land Grab – Invasion of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt and Syria - 5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967

20 Jun Attack on Gaza - 6–21 May 2021 (2 weeks and 1 day)

16-18 Sep 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres

28 Sep Second Intifada - 28 Sept 2000 – 8 Feb 2005

2 Nov Balfour Declaration

29 Nov United Nations - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

8 Dec "First Intifada - 8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993

Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign?

We will need some serious money to make our campaign as effective as possible. For example, we will need somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 to bring speakers to New Zealand over the next year and organise large public meetings to help spread the message.

You can help. Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign? In other words, can you afford to make an automatic payment of $5 per month to support the Palestinian struggle? (If you can afford more that would be great!)

Our account details are:

Account name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00

We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)

Nationwide Rally list

To view events around Aotearoa:

Go to the PSNA Homepage – www.PSNA.nz. Scroll down to the button “For a list of events Nationwide, please click here - Check back often for updates”. Click the button. Check back on Friday for any moves, adds or changes
Or events are on the PSNA Facebook events page here
Or Scroll down to the bottom of this Newsletter for the detailed list of events for this week.
We have added a page to the PSNA website where we now post the Events list. You can find it here – www.PSNA.nz/Events

The QR code for this is:

It is updated on Wednesday afternoon and ongoing as events are notified to us. Please check back on Friday afternoon to see if there has been Additions or Changes.

More ways you can get involved

Forward this Newsletter – If you know people who may be interested in this movement, please forward this Newsletter to them.
Join in local activities in your area - Contact Secretary@PSNA.nz if you would like to know where and how to get Flags and Banners
Help set up a Students for Justice in Palestine groups on your campus
Tell Your MP your opinions on Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.
Write Letters to Newspapers – Call Talkback Radio
Keep in touch with the campaign on social media

o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network website: https://www.PSNA.nz

o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/

o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: Secretary@PSNA.nz

The Palestine Human Rights Campaign produces the In Occupied Palestine newsletter. It is a regular daily newsletter on the daily situation in Palestine, compiled by Leslie Bravery and emailed to subscribers. If you would also like to become a subscriber, please contact Leslie at “lesliebravery @ icloud .com” (remove the spaces to use as an email address) for further information.
Keep Updated on our Facebook pages and websites (listed below)
Human rights for Uyghur refugees - In line with our support for human rights for the people of Palestine we have added our name to the petition in support of human rights for Uyghur refugees so they can be included in the government’s refugee quota. PSNA members who wish to also sign this petition can do so here - https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/open-letter-let-s-show-compassion-to-the-uyghur-community