New Zealand Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Manatū Aorere
23 July 2020
195 Lambton Quay
Private Bag 18−901
Wellington 6160
New Zealand
David Cumin
T +64 4 439 8000
[FYI request #13148 email]
F +64 4 472 9596
Dear David Cumin
I refer to your email of 25 June 2020 in which you request the following under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA):
“The Israel Institute of New Zealand has shown that at least $1m of taxpayer money has
been paid to UNRWA and that some of those funds have been used to teach children
hatred and incite violence (http://bit.ly/3cHkVSY).
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported the
curriculum used in UNRWA schools "perpetuate[s] prejudices and hatred”, “fuels hatred”
and “may incite violence” (https://bit.ly/2BD3ANe).
The European Parliament recently passed resolutions condemning the Palestinian Authority
for continuing to teach hate from the same school text books (https://bit.ly/2Yu4FzI) and
Norway has withheld payment to the PA over the material (https://bit.ly/2Yrq5NS).
Please could you provide any documentation you hold that suggests New Zealand tax
money might have funded any other forms of incitement or hatred over the past 5 years.”
The Palestinian Authority – not UNRWA – is responsible for the final curriculum and production
of textbooks. However, we understand there is an independent review of textbooks currently
underway, and we are supportive of this.
New Zealand is committed to addressing all forms of violence and extremism, including hate
speech. We regularly engage with our partners to ensure that our humanitarian and
development support is not used for these purposes. The New Zealand Government does not
fund incitement or hatred. Accordingly, your request is refused under section 18(e) of the OIA,
as the information requested does not exist.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the OIA to seek a review of this response by the
Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely
Julie-Anne Lee
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
e [MFAT request email]
w www.mfat.govt.nz