Free Palestine party seeks to finalize registry for New Zealand elections

The "Palestine Free from the River to the Sea Party" is seeking registration for the 2026 New Zealand elections with a platform focused on dismantling Israel. The party aims to establish a single, democratic, and secular state in Palestine with equal citizenship for all. It also calls for an end to the occupation of the Levant, prosecution for alleged war crimes, and unconditional support for Palestinian resistance. Additionally, the party advocates for New Zealand to withdraw from security alliances with the US and England.

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The Palestine Free from the River to the Sea Party is committed to contesting parliamentary elections as an independent party and building a mass democratic movement for justice in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and internationally. We aim to change public opinion and put sustained parliamentary pressure on the New Zealand government to uphold its obligations under international law with respect to Palestine.

Party president Paul Hopkinson cited an error on digital forms as the reason for needing to reapply with nearly 600 members to meet electoral commission requirements. The party, also known as the Free Palestine Party, was announced on May 11 by Hopkinson, a longtime far-left activist. Its website states the party's objective is to win parliamentary seats and build ties with global movements to advance its goals.

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the issue for the Jewish community is that if the party were to successfully register, it would receive taxpayer funding to advance an agenda that essentially demanded an end to Israel.

Concerns have been raised by the Jewish community regarding potential taxpayer funding for a party advocating for Israel's end. Juliet Moses, spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council, noted that such funding could support an agenda demanding Israel's dissolution. David Cumin, co-director of the Israel Institute of New Zealand, expressed disappointment that a significant portion of the electorate would support a party with such aims, while acknowledging the democratic right to participate in elections.

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it was wonderful to live in a democracy like Israel and New Zealand, where anyone could run for office, but it was disappointing that "500 people support a part