Kiwis in the dark over Iraq mission

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-confirms-taji-objectives-being-achieved

The Green Party is calling for the Defence Minister to front-up to the Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade Select Committee with an uncensored version of the review of the Defence Force deployment in Iraq, which is so heavily redacted there is no way of knowing if soldiers are even safe.

Minister Brownlee today released a heavily redacted version of his Cabinet paper reviewing the military deployment in Iraq. Redacted information includes discussion on the threat of a potential ‘insider attack’ on New Zealand personnel, and Australian comments on the performance of the New Zealand Defence Force.

“The review is so heavily redacted we have no way of knowing if soldiers in Iraq are safe, or if the mission has been the success that the Government claims,” said Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kennedy Graham.

“Every bit of the report that appears to detail the challenges or problems facing the mission or our soldiers, has been redacted. Instead, we get a press release from the Minister Gerry Brownlee saying the mission has been a success.

“New Zealanders, and the soldiers risking their lives in Iraq, have a right to a full assessment of how the mission is working, not just the highlights. At the moment the National Government is simply telling us to take their word for it.

“Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee needs to front up with an uncensored review of the military deployment in Iraq at the next Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee. Any security concerns could be alleviated by MPs meeting behind closed doors.

“The National Government has gone so far as to even censor what objectives they are using to measure the success of this deployment.

“The National Government has a huge political stake in selling this mission as a success, so it is inappropriate for them to be the only ones allowed to judge its performance," said Dr Graham.

Action

How to get involved - Treaty Principles

Information on how to make a submission, volunteer or run your own event.

Action

Submit for Climate Action

Submit today to ask the Government to commit to strong Climate Change targets.

Action

Treaty Principles - Make a submission

Join our submission. Let's make it clear that we do not support the Treaty Principles bill.

Action

Ditch the Bootcamps - Sign our petition

Sign our petition demanding an end to bootcamps for children.

Action

Build Dunedin Hospital

Take our poll on how the Government should spend its money, and email Christopher Luxon telling him your thoughts.

Action

Oil & Gas Quick Submissions 2024

Sign the quick submission to save the oil & gas ban!

Action

Stop Fast-track Destruction

Join our call to stop the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

Action

Protect te reo Māori

Sign our petition asking Minister Erica Stanford to keep prioritising the teaching of te reo Māori.

Action

Cut the Coal Petition | Join the movement

Fight back: Tell the government that coal mining is not our future.

Action

Protect Our Freshwater

Join our Green MPs in calling for the government to protect freshwater. Proposed changes to the Resource Management Act threaten New Zealand's...

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Foreign Affairs Announcements

Story

Urgent wake-up call on climate

The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action.

NZ must pursue independent foreign policy

The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy.

Greens support call for divestment from illegal Israeli settlements

The Green Party echoes a call for banks to divest from entities linked to Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine, and says Crown Financial Insti...

Potential intelligence sharing with Israel must be investigated

Concerns have been raised that our spy arrangements may mean that intelligence is being shared between Aotearoa and Israel. An urgent inquiry must ...

Govt must act on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine

The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupatio...

Aotearoa must follow in the footsteps of countries recognising Palestinian statehood

The Green Party is calling on the Government to follow in the footsteps of Ireland, Spain and Norway in recognising Palestinian statehood.