Shameless doesn’t convey my disgust at our UN Vote naming Slavery “the gravest crime against Humanity”, by standing with the European colonisers, who all abstained, and by extension with the US and Israel, who voted against the measure. You either condemn not just the enslavement but the raping of the slave-women, the murder of their husbands, the hanging from the rafter, the lynchings and then preaching to them from the bible on Sundays – or you agree by your silence. I only had to call the white supremist “Baas” (master) and I still weep.

An excellent image eroded

New Zealand has always punched above its weight, and our leaders have consistently championed Human rights. We were never lackeys of anyone and have always had intestinal fortitude. Our size didn't matter. Our moral compass did.

Championed by the courageous Kate Sheppard we became the first country in the world to give women the vote. Staring down the might of America, David Langa led us into the brave nuclear-free world championing non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our focus on peace and safety has earned us a global reputation for contributing to peacekeeping and supporting human rights. Whilst Muldoon, a signatory to the Gleneagles Agreement, openly breached it by allowing the 1981 tour, the DNA of New Zealand’s civil society and leaders in defence of International Human Rights, shone brightly during the Apartheid days not just during the tour but at a political leadership level, as the late Jim Bolger’s admission to Mandela that the 81 tour was a mistake, proves.

After walking the Genocide sites of Rwanda and sharing the Reconciliation Conference platform with Justice Minister, the late Jean de Dieu Mucyo, I shared a meal with Prosecutor General and Deputy Justice Minister, judge Gerald Gahima. Judge Gahima sang the praises of New Zealand's “credibility and champion of Human Rights” on the international stage during the genocide in Rwanda. They had high praise for Ambassador Colin Keating who shone the spotlight on their plight. Keating's stance was vindicated 20 years later when the UN apologized for their failure in responding to Rwanda's genocide.

Our global reputation of fierce independence and unwavering commitment to Human Decency hasn’t just been eroded but seriously betrayed over the past 2 years.

Erosion of Māori Rights

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous People was scathing regarding the erosion of Māori rights following the Treaty Principles Bill and related legislation. This has seriously set back relationships with Māori. This wilful disregard for honouring our founding document was abundantly evident in the punitive reversing of names like Waka Kotahi back to the cultural hegemony domination.

When the high court ruled that the appointment process for our Chief Human Rights Commissioner was unlawful the Minister of Justice was indifferent. The utter arrogance of the custodian and defender of our Justice system responsible for upholding fairness, protecting human rights and maintaining moral order speaks volumes of this government’s approach to human rights.

Don’t get me started on gender equity reversal or blatant disregard of the 15 March Royal Commission’s recommendation on diversity and social cohesion as they follow Trump. They duck and dive for cover when it comes to the vitriol that inspires abuse towards our Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and other communities.

The woeful silence on Gaza

Our gutless approach to not restating New Zealand’s long held position on the two-state solution in not wanting to offend Trump, resulted in woefully silence on the genocide in Gaza. Yes, Hamas and Hezbollah are evil and should never have leadership roles in a decent society. We are all agreed, so let's remove that as an excuse for our silence on Netanyahu's atrocities. We condemn dictators like Putin for suppressing freedom of speech, yet the independent media has been banned from Israel and countless journalists have been murdered. Only deafening silence from us.

The Illegal War in the Middle East

Then there is the illegal war in the Middle East. No one is shedding a tear for the brutal Iranian regime. This government had an opportunity to designate the IRGC a terrorist organisation and was found wanting. Now they are "disgracefully silent" to quote Helen Clark in speaking out against wannabe King Trump who has scant regard for international rules. At least say something about the murder of 160 innocent school children. Do something about special visas to reunite families.

To the Iranian Solidarity group, my many Iranian friends and extended family either part of the global diaspora or still back home; I appreciate this situation is complex, sensitive and emotional. You know my heart when I spoke at your parliamentary function, I stand with you. Most of you want regime change, so do I. The question is, at what price. You are in my heart and prayers as I lift you up before the Almighty.

Trump’s vanity makes him clueless about the end game, and he is led by the nose by Netanyahu's nightmare of turning Iran and Lebanon into the rubble of Gaza with zero regard for the innocent. In 1995 Netanyahu led a mock funeral procession featuring a coffin and hangman’s noose chanted death to Rabin. A few months later Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated and the chance for peace in tatters. The poisoning of Chairman Arafat saw Hamas filling the void.

Netanyahu bombed Trump’s plane-gifting friends in Qatar whilst they were facilitating peace negotiations in Gaza. He did the same during Witkoff and Kushner’s negotiations with Iran. As Putin apologist Tucker Carlson said, “Trump is fighting Netanyahu’s war”. They don’t care for ordinary Iranians; they are cannon fodder.

Although Bush lied about Weapons of Mass Destruction, he at least tried to make his case to the international allies. He played by the international rules. The despotic Trump doesn't care. Unbridled Power can do what it wants. "I can take Cuba, I can take Greenland"

Back to New Zealand and this government. Grow a Spine, stop the betrayal. Be the champion of Human Rights that the Rwandan Minister of justice lauded NZ for. Our DNA is still the same. International rules and Human rights haven't changed. The world just has one more despotic manchild, whose vanity mantra is bullying and international political vandalism. And after he bombs Cuba and Greenland, Putin murders Zelenskyy and China take Taiwan, who knows. Maybe next time the despots will come for us. Our silence is acquiescence.

But it is not too late – Please show the world we still believe in respectful negotiations, in equal partnerships, in peaceful coexistence, in inclusive global security and most of all a deep commitment to our common humanity.

Gregory Fortuin - Former NZ Race Relations Commissioner

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