There are concerns for lost opportunities if Luxon misses the APEC summit, Nanaia Mahuta refuses to label Hamas attack on Israel ‘terror’ and Dilworth School announces $44 million for sexual abuse redress. Video / NZ Herald
The fence outside Premier House in Wellington has been tagged with pro-Palestine slogans, including “stop the genocide”.
Red paint has been sprayed on the fence, emblazoning it with the misspelled phrase “Fre Gaza” and “stop the genocide”.
A police spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the graffiti, telling theHeraldthey are making enquiries.
Police enter Premier House. Photo / NZME
“Our enquiries are in the very early stages to determine the full circumstances. We ask anyone with information or footage to please contact Police via our 105 phone service.”
'Fre Gaza' spray painted in red on the fence outside Premier House in Thorndon, Wellington. Photo / NZME
The US Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Auckland were also sprayed with red paint early this morning, and tagged with the phrases “save Gaza”, “ceasefire now” and “free Palestine”.
The entrance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Mfat) building on Quay St in Auckland has been splashed with red paint by pro-Palestine protesters. Photo / Michael Craig
Tensions have been escalating across New Zealand as protests continue - some in support of Palestine and others in support of Israel. At a pro-Palestine rally in Auckland on Saturday a young child was allegedly hit on the head by a shovel-wielding man.
Police have said the man did not have a political motive and had been receiving support of the mental health services.
Hundreds of people gathered in the square around 2pm on Sunday, with police saying the crowd grew to a couple of thousand, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
A member of New Zealand’s Palestinian community who was at the rally, Rand Hazou, said witnesses described the attacker waiting off to the side on Greys Ave between the Town Hall and the square.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) building on Quay St in Auckland splashed with red paint or fake blood by Tamaki for Palestine protesters on November 14.
“At the close of the rally around 5pm, we got a report he had attacked a young child.
“I spoke to some of the eyewitnesses who had jumped on him and then the police arrested him.”
Superintendent Sunny Patel, the acting Auckland District Commander, said police had arrested a man after a child was seriously hurt as he was leaving a protest.
A statue of former Auckland mayor Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, who had Jewish heritage, was also defaced with a swastika and the words “Free Palestine” during or after the rally in Auckland’s Aotea Square.
Following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel, in which at least 1200 people were killed, Israel’s allies have defended the country’s right to protect itself. But now into the second month of war, there are growing differences over how Israel should conduct its fight.
The graffiti follows weeks of protest across New Zealand and the world calling on a cease-fire from Israel - but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on Saturday against growing international calls, saying Israel’s battle to crush Gaza’s ruling Hamas militants will continue with “full force”.
More than 11,070 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and minors, have been killed since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. About 2700 people have been reported missing and are thought to be possibly trapped or dead under the rubble.
At least 1200 people have been killed in Israel, mainly in the initial Hamas attack, Israeli officials say.
Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.
