25 August 2025
Tēnā koutou Minister Peters,
Call for action to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
We are writing to add our voice to calls for the New Zealand government to take action to help bring about an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists (NZARH) is a charity organisation that exists to serve the interests of non-religious people in New Zealand. Humanism is a rational and ethical worldview that affirms the worth and dignity of the individual, and the right of every human to the greatest possible freedom and fullest possible development, compatible with the rights of others. Our Humanist principles apply to every individual, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or religion or belief. Although the NZARH is not a humanitarian organisation, we cannot in good conscience turn a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The NZARH condemns all acts of violence that target civilians and perpetuate cycles of suffering, whether they are committed by nation states or non-state actors. The brutal attacks of 7 October 2023, and the devastating military response since the attacks, which has included a refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, are both morally indefensible acts. In your own words, Israel’s military response is not “proportionate, reasonable or moral”, and we believe that as a nation we must do everything we can to put pressure on both parties in this conflict to negotiate a ceasefire.
The NZARH is a member of Humanists International, which as an organisation has been active at the UN since its inception. During this time, Humanists International has consistently underlined the need for states to continue to protect the UN Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. We were at a loss for words when sanctions were announced on 9 July 2025 by the United States on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Attacks against the UN and other multilateral institutions and their mechanisms weaken our backstops against human rights abuses and democratic backsliding, including in the Middle East.
We ask you to take immediate action to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Delaying the recognition of a state of Palestine until September, while there is already immense human suffering and famine in Gaza, seems unjustifiable to us.
We ask you to continue to condemn the Israeli government for restricting access to aid, and to call on all parties in the Israel-Palestine conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, which is also in line with the 2011 Humanists International Oslo Declaration on Peace (attached).
All wars are started by human beings, and wars are ended by human beings working together. We support practical actions to progress democracy and secularism in the Middle East, and ask that New Zealand do its part in this important process.
Ngā mihi nui,
Sara Passmore, President, New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists Incorporated
Supporting documents can be read here:
The Oslo Declaration on Peace 2011
Humanists International position on Gaza: