Today at Canterbury Regional Councils 600th meeting, I presented a Notice of Motion to support The Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill

Here is my speech
Tena koutou katoa, As-salamu alaykum, Shalom, Peace
My fellow councillors, almost three years ago when I made my inaugural speech in this chamber, I said that I am not here as a moral beacon nor as a role model, I’m not qualified for that. I also stated in that speech, that where I believe ECAN has a legal or moral responsibility, I would do my best to make sure that we end up on the right side of history.

Before I introduce my notice of motion today, I will acknowledge the Chair and Chief Executive, any Anger provoked due to this notice of motion being on the agenda should be aimed at me, and me solely. However, I make no apologies though for my actions.
My notice of motion is simple, it asks that the Canterbury Regional Council supports The Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, and requests that Council writes to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking that Government MPs support the Bill The purpose is so that this members bill may proceed through to a first reading in our Parliament.

The Bill recognises UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/24 and is based upon the existing The Russia Sanctions Act 2022, literally a cut and paste, which was adopted with haste and unanimously, including by many many of the current government MPs.
The bill however is currently languishing in the ballot relying on the luck of the draw. As to date only the Greens, Te Pati Māori and Labour have said they will support it.

In the past week since my notice of motion was added to the agenda, a number of my colleagues, have speculated on my intention including antisemitism and electioneering. But that’s ok. Its not about me, so I don’t need to respond, however I will clear one thing up, I have not been nominated to re-stand..

This Notice of motion is about doing everything that is possible, doing the right thing, being on the right side of history, SO I am seeking your support to encourage the government to have the debate on the floor of parliament. Not us deciding if it becomes law, but the representatives of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.

That said, why support the bill and write to the PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs?, WELL I would say,

Stop the genocide, release the Israeli and Palestinian captives and let the aid in, I would add

Thank you to the people in the gallery, outside the room and online supporting this notice of motion, thank you to the millions across the globe crying out for action Whether Muslim, Jew, Catholic, Hindu, Sikh, Protestant, Buddhist atheist, agnostic or other, it is not our words that are starving the two million people of Gaza, it is the actions of the Unlawful occupying force of Israel and the inaction of governments like ours, it is not our words that are pulling the triggers of the guns that are used to “eradicate’ Palestinians, including the UN estimated 28,000 women and children killed since October 2023, the Unlawful Occupying Israeli army, colonisers, and its contractors are doing that, with weapons and components supplied by the US and many of the now ‘finally appalled 28 government foreign Ministers countries”. Its not our words or those of decent people across the globe that have targeted doctors and health workers, journalists and un workers, aid convoys or those lured to food stations to be corralled and then gunned down or blown up. But that has occurred because governments like ours have turned a blind eye to the unlawful occupation of Palestinian Lands, a 77 year atrocity, now a genocide.

But we are not here to debate the bill, we are here seeking to have our Parliament do that, we are here at a moment which will cause our grandchildren to ask, what did you do.

How important is it to you, that they can say, they did the right thing, and when we vote today and I call for division, your vote will be there for perpetuity as a badge of decency or a mark of shame. And a reminder to some who wish to play game of politics, to abstain in the belief that it is neutral, is in fact a vote for the powerful. After all, if you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing.

“Every time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope.”
Let today be our ripple
Thank you

Right of reply
Many have questioned what has this to do with the Canterbury Regional Council? If one can possibly ignore the horror of the starvation and bombing of a confined population in Gaza, which in my mind represents a genocide, along with the escalation of conflict including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran, there are in fact both direct and indirect consequences upon the ratepayers of Canterbury Waitaha from the Israel regime actions..

The Canterbury Regional Council Annual Plan has been drafted with a presumption of lower interest rates and costs, than those projected in the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034.
Al Jazeera has reported that “Oil-importing countries around the world could experience higher inflation and slower economic growth if the conflict persists”.
Looking ahead, analysts warned that central banks would face reduced policy flexibility in trying to control rising prices.
According to Goldman Sachs, a worst-case scenario involving blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, a possible outcome of Israels attack on Iran, could push oil prices above $100 per barrel.
The impact on the operating costs of Public Transport in Canterbury through higher fuel costs highlight both the likely significant financial impact upon rate payers, and also the short sightedness of the Government to move away from investing in public transport upgrade including electric buses.

This too will be reflected in freight and transport costs and significantly impact our rural and agricultural areas and industries directly, and create a flow through to consumers.

IF WE VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION BEFORE US TODAY, I ASK YOU TO TURN AND LOOK AT THE PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY, AND SEE HOW THE RIPPLE HAS GROWN AS IT PREPARES TO LEAVE THE ROOM

I called division 8 – 8
For Councillors Byrnes, Cranwell, Davies, Dietsche, Edge, Robinson, Southworth and Chair Pauling,
Against
Councillors Swiggs, Korako, East, Ward, McKay, Scott, Mackenzie and Sunckell