Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand
On 9 March 2022, Parliament passed the Russia Sanctions Bill through all its stages in a single day. The Bill was introduced the previous day, received its first, second and third readings and completed its committee stage on 9 March, before receiving Royal Assent on 10 March.
The legislation created a dedicated framework allowing New Zealand to impose and enforce sanctions in response to Russia’s military actions and those assisting Russia.
The speed matters.
New Zealand had debated autonomous sanctions for years. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Government moved urgently and Parliament acted.
Now Labour has made its Israel policy explicit.
In its foreign-policy speech on 23 September, Labour committed to recognising the State of Palestine, placing economic sanctions on Israel, and requiring the NZ Super Fund and ACC to divest from companies on the UN list operating in the occupied territories. Labour also committed to intervening in South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice concerning the Genocide Convention.
That is a significant step beyond Labour’s earlier position.
In March 2025, Labour supported Chlöe Swarbrick’s bill that would enable sanctions against Israel over its occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Then, in September 2025, Labour called for “meaningful sanctions” including cutting trade and economic ties, freezing assets and travel bans on named individuals, explicitly referring to the approach New Zealand had taken towards Russia.
So the political commitment is now clear.
The mechanics are not.
The Russia Sanctions Act was specifically designed around Russia’s military actions. Its purpose is expressly tied to Russia and those assisting it.
If Labour wants to impose sanctions on Israel under a different legal basis, New Zealand needs to know what legislation Labour would use or introduce.
That is where the questions begin. When?
The Russia sanctions legislation went from introduction to all parliamentary stages in one day.
What is Labour’s deadline for legislation or other legal authority to implement its promised economic sanctions on Israel? How?
Will Labour support and pass Chlöe Swarbrick’s sanctions legislation, amend it, or introduce its own Government bill?
And if new legislation is required, how quickly would it be introduced? What sanctions?
Labour’s current speech says only that it will “place economic sanctions on Israel.”
But Labour has previously identified much more specific measures: cutting economic and trade ties, freezing assets and imposing travel bans on named individuals.
Will those measures form part of the policy?
Would Labour also consider restrictions on settlement-linked trade, procurement restrictions, financial measures, and sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violations of international law? What comes first?
Labour has now committed to three significant measures: recognition of Palestine, sanctions on Israel, and intervention in South Africa’s ICJ case.
Will these happen simultaneously?
Or will there be a sequence and, if so, what is it?
These are not minor details.
A sanctions policy is a legal instrument, not simply a political statement. It needs legislation or legal authority, definitions, targets, enforcement mechanisms, exemptions, timelines and accountability.
Labour has said the right things about the need for consequences when international law is breached.
It has also demonstrated, through the Russia sanctions legislation, that New Zealand can act with extraordinary speed when Parliament decides that circumstances demand it.
So the question now is simple:
If Labour believes Israel should face economic sanctions, show New Zealand the plan.
Put the legislation on the table.
Put the timeline on the table.
Put the sanctions on the table.
And explain clearly how the promised action will move from a 23 September election commitment to an enforceable New Zealand sanctions regime.
The commitment has been made. Now the mechanics must follow.