Clergy protesting the government's lack of recognition for a Palestinian state at MP Erica Stanford's electorate office, September 2025. Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ
An Anglican priest chained to MP Erica Stanford's Auckland electorate office says they will stay there until they get an audience with the minister.
Philipa Young was one of four Christian clergy chained to the office as part of the group Common Grace Aotearoa, calling for clarity on when the Government will sanction Israel amid the conflict in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the United Nations on Saturday New Zealand would not yet recognise a Palestinian state.
Clergy protesting the government's lack of recognition for a Palestinian state at MP Erica Stanford's electorate office, September 2025. Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ
Young says they were denied entry by staffers at the office in Browns Bay, and have begun a prayer vigil, praying for peace in the Middle East.
She told RNZ they had a letter for Stanford, outlining their concerns and calls for sanctions.
"We are here because our faith demands a loving response and a call for action in Gaza," Young said.
"We are calling on our Government to impose sanctions on the state of Israel to try and bring action, and help to get a peaceful solution and a resolution to this awful genocide that's playing out on the ground in Gaza."
Young said they wanted an audience with Stanford.
"We would like a chance to deliver our letter, and we would like some clarity around a timeframe of when our government intend to impose sanctions on the state of Israel."
If that did not happen, Young said they would continue to pray and write letters, and added they were open to what the call meant for the church and New Zealanders.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the United Nations on Saturday New Zealand would not yet recognise a Palestinian state.
Young said she was surprised by his decision.
"New Zealand has so often stood alongside our allies, Australia, the UK, Canada, Ireland, France, in acting together on issues of importance, and New Zealand did not do that - we are now an outlier internationally on this issue."
Peters said the government had "one opportunity" to recognise Palestinian statehood and it made better sense to do so once conditions offered great prospects for peace.
Young said they wanted to know what those conditions were and how they would be realised.
"We say recognise the state of Palestine, impose sanctions on the state of Israel, and let's work hard to see those conditions established whereby Palestinian statehood can function well."
Police said they were aware of a protest at the electorate office and that no issues had been reported so far.
Stanford's office has been approached for comment.
Priests earlier this month chained themselves to Finance Minister Nicola Willis' office.
The six of them lasted 32 hours.
Clergy protesting the government's lack of recognition for a Palestinian state at MP Erica Stanford's electorate office, September 2025. Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ
Willis said she received a large number of meeting requests and simply could not accommodate all of them.
"I will not be setting a precedent that the way to get a meeting with me is to don an adult nappy and chain yourself to a door.
"I reiterate that the result of this protest action is that Wellingtonians are currently unable to access my office for help with any local issues they may have."
And before that five members of a group of clergy members carried out a similar protest at National MP Simeon Brown's electorate office and were served trespass notices. The group left the building without incident, police said.
Clergy protesting the government's lack of recognition for a Palestinian state at MP Erica Stanford's electorate office, September 2025. Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday said New Zealanders should be "proud" of the government's decision not to recognise Palestine, despite many of our friends - such as Canada, the UK and Australia - going ahead with recognition.
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