Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
22 September 2026
PSNA is congratulating the Invercargill City Council which this afternoon voted to end procurement of goods or services from companies profiting from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
Invercargill is the seventh local body to pass similar motions sanctioning Israel. (Christchurch, Nelson and Palmerston City Councils, Environment Canterbury and Environment Southland are the others, while Wellington has banned investment in Israeli government bonds)
“Thank You Invercargill,” says Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Spokesperson Rinad Tamimi “You represent the best of New Zealand. You have stood up while our government sits on its hands.”
“Palestine will remember your simple but significant stand for Palestinian human rights just as it will remember the complicity of the New Zealand government.”
Today’s motion ends the Council’s purchase of goods or services from companies on a United Nations Human Rights Council list which support illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Mayor Tom Campbell moved a motion to oppose the Palestine Solidarity motion. But seven councilors in a row spoke against his motion and in favour of sanctioning Israel.
Campbell’s motion was decisively lost and the resolution was voted in as council policy.
“The greatest problem in Israel/Palestine is that Israel has never been held to account for its war crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide being live-streamed from Gaza,” Tamimi says.
“By itself, the Invercargill resolution won’t force Israel to give Palestinians equal rights, but it is an important step for this country to apply BDS (Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions) to Israel as requested by Palestinians civil society.
“PSNA expects more councils to have similar votes in the coming weeks.”
The ICC debate can be seen here: Invercargill City Council debate.