A diplomatic effort is under way to contain any fallout from what Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has declared “fake news” published by an Israeli media outlet about New Zealand’s immigration settings.
The multi-pronged Government response includes New Zealand’s embassy in Washington, which is attempting to engage with an influential US senator who shared an article which Immigration New Zealand says is “unfairly affecting New Zealand’s reputation”.
The story, published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, claims Israelis must now detail their service in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) when applying for a visa for New Zealand. It suggests this is part of “new requirements” for visa applications announced this week.
However, Immigration New Zealand says it’s incorrect to state every Israeli wishing to come to New Zealand has to provide details of their IDF service and there have been no new policies announced for either Israeli or Palestinian nationals.
New Zealand also doesn’t require Israelis to have a visitor visa to stay under three months (they just need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority declaration).
The agency’s deputy chief operating officer, Jeannie Melville, told the Herald it had been in contact with Haaretz since Saturday, “seeking an urgent correction”.
“We have sought an urgent update to the article as it is unfairly affecting New Zealand’s reputation. No correction has yet been published, although a New Zealand Government response has been added to the story. We have not at this stage been in contact with any other overseas media outlets.”
The story received attention on Saturday after influential Republican US Senator Ted Cruz shared a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from Haaretz linking to the story.
Cruz said it was “difficult to treat New Zealand as a normal ally within the American alliance system, when they denigrate and punish Israeli citizens for defending themselves and their country from Iranian-controlled terrorists”.
“Hamas didn’t just murder Israelis on October 7, but also American citizens, and Israel’s push to utterly eradicate Hamas is straightforwardly and deeply in America’s national security interests. New Zealand should be co-operating with Israel in its campaign rather than engaging in these self-indulgent leftwing attacks [sic].”
It's difficult to treat New Zealand as a normal ally within the American alliance system, when they denigrate and punish Israeli citizens for defending themselves and their country from Iranian-controlled terrorists.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 31, 2025
Hamas didn't just murder Israelis on October 7, but also…
A few hours later, Peters responded to Cruz, saying the story was “fake news” and the Government was “demanding it be corrected”.
“Israelis do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand, let alone have to declare their military service,” Peters said.
“And both New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner and I – as Foreign Minister – have made clear that the so-called ‘genocide hotline’ is dangerous, antisemitic nonsense [sic]. New Zealanders are a friendly people – and Israelis are very welcome to visit New Zealand. Many do so under our visitor visa waiver programme.
“New Zealand & the United States are long-standing, close partners – and we are looking forward to building that partnership further under the Trump Administration [sic].”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also confirmed to the Herald that the “New Zealand Embassy in Washington is engaging with the office of Ted Cruz in relation to the incorrect information”.
This comes at a risky time for relations with the United States as it begins applying tariffs on countries. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump signed an order to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
With New Zealand’s economy heavily reliant on trade – the US became New Zealand’s second-largest export partner in 2024 – the Government will be wanting to hose down anything that may put the new Trump administration offside.
Haaretz’s post is no longer visible on X, suggesting it has been deleted. However, the story remains live on its website with the headline “New Zealand to Require Israelis to Detail IDF Service as Part of Visa Application Process”.
This @haaretzcom story is fake news, Senator @TedCruz. We are demanding it be corrected.
— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) February 1, 2025
Israelis do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand, let alone have to declare their military service.
And both New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner and I - as Foreign… https://t.co/mhrx9pwHyw
Act leader and senior Cabinet minister David Seymour also responded to Cruz, saying what was being suggested was “not the position of the New Zealand Government”.
“We have strongly criticised those seeking to denigrate or punish Israeli citizens, which they have no right to do. No doubt there are people you disagree with in your country, too.”
Another Israeli outlet, the Times of Israel, published similar claims this week, but has since issued another story regarding the New Zealand Government’s denial of the claims.
Melville said there may be certain circumstances when the agency needs more information from an applicant to determine whether they can come into New Zealand, such as military details.
However, “it is not correct to say that every Israeli wanting to visit New Zealand is asked to provide details of their military service”.
“It is worth reiterating that since October 7, 2023, we have approved 809 of 944 applications received from Israeli nationals across both temporary and residence visa applications.”
The Herald has also approached Haaretz and the author of the story for comment.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.