PM Christopher Luxon declines US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza invitation

PM Christopher Luxon has refused Trump's offer to join the board. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand will not be joining United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza “in its current form”, according to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Luxon this morning confirmed the decision in a brief statement:

“The Government has considered President Trump’s invitation and has decided not to join the Board of Peace in its current form.”

The entity, which Trump chairs, was initially designed to oversee peace being restored to Gaza following the war between Israel and Hamas.

It has since morphed into a body intended to address other international conflicts. Concerns have been raised about the board’s US$1 billion membership fee, an invitation being extended to Russia and the potential for the board to overlap with the role of the United Nations.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has demanded New Zealand not join the body, particularly if Russia were to be a member.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters also released a statement this morning, echoing Luxon’s language but adding New Zealand would monitor the board’s progress.

“New Zealand will not be joining the Board in its current form but will continue to monitor developments.

“New Zealand recognises the leadership of the United States, in close coordination with nations from the region, on advancing peace in Gaza.

“We see a role for the Board of Peace in Gaza, to be carried out as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

“A number of states, particularly from the region, have stepped up to contribute to the Board’s role on Gaza, and New Zealand would not add significant further value to that.

“As a leading founder and longstanding supporter of the United Nations, it is important that the Board’s work is complementary to and consistent with the UN Charter.

“It is a new body, and we need clarity on this, and on other questions relating to its scope, now and in the future.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.