“We call on Invercargill City Council to join other councils across Aotearoa, including Environment Southland, in ensuring ratepayer money is not spent with companies identified by the United Nations as involved in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, in line with New Zealand government policy as expressed through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.”

Six councils across Aotearoa have already adopted this motion, including Environment Southland which passed it 12-0 last September. They found little to no financial impact.

Why is this important?

• For 57 years, Gaza and the West Bank have been under illegal Israeli military occupation. Throughout this time illegal settlements (Israeli communities built on Palestinian land) have been built in increasing numbers.
• In 2016, New Zealand co-sponsored New Zealand co-sponsored UN SC2334, which calls the settlements "a flagrant violation under international law" and "a major obstacle to peace".
• In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation breaks CERD Article 3 on apartheid and racial segregation, and countries must not assist in sustaining it.
• Rather than withdrawing as directed by the UN in 2024, more buildings were approved in the first three months of 2025 than the whole of 2024. There are now more than 775,000 settlers on occupied Palestinian land, approximately double the number in 2016 when UNSC 2334 was passed. The UN has reported annual increases in settler violence in the West Bank, including more than 1800 attacks, 240 deaths and the displacement of 1600 Palestinians in 2025.

Should Invercargill ratepayer money fund companies involved in activities our own government recognises as unlawful? Local action cannot end an occupation, but it can refuse complicity.

This proposal aligns with bipartisan New Zealand policy, has clear precedent across Aotearoa and carries minimal practical impact, yet draws a clear ethical line. It applies narrowly to companies identified by the United Nations Human Rights Council as directly involved in illegal settlements (A/HRC/60/19).

Small countries like ours rely on the rules-based system for our own security. When international law is ignored without consequence, it puts us all at risk.