Foreign minister Winston Peters has demanded a correction, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund for The Bulletin.
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‘Unfairly affecting New Zealand’s reputation’
New Zealand’s embassy in Washington DC has been brought in to try and stem the fallout from a “fake news” article shared online by a high profile US senator. The Herald’s Jamie Ensor reported that the article, by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, claimed that Israelis applying for a visa to enter New Zealand must declare any service in the Israeli Defence Force. It picked up traction over the weekend after Republican senator Ted Cruz, a former presidential hopeful with over six million followers on Twitter, shared the article. However, Immigration NZ said the article’s claims were incorrect and the agency was seeking “an urgent correction” to the article. “We have sought an urgent update to the article as it is unfairly affecting New Zealand’s reputation,” said the agency’s deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville. Immigration NZ said no new policies for Israeli or Palestinian nationals had been announced, and Israelis wishing to stay in New Zealand for less than three months don’t need a visa – just an electronic travel declaration.
‘Fake news’
In his remarks on social media, reported The Post, Cruz said it was “difficult to treat New Zealand as a normal ally within the American alliance system, when they denigrate and punish Israeli citizens for defending themselves”. It prompted responses online from three senior government ministers, including foreign minister Winston Peters who labelled the story “fake news” and demanded a correction. “Israelis do not need visitor visas to travel to New Zealand, let alone have to declare their military service,” Peters said in a tweet. Cruz’s tweet remains online at the time of publication, though the post by the news outlet has been removed from social media. Its story, however, remains visible on its own website. A follow-up report included comments from Immigration NZ.
Others to weigh in include Act leader David Seymour and defence minister Judith Collins, with the former telling Stuff it was “unfortunate that someone on the other side of the world got confused between John Minto and an actual leader”. That’s a reference to a “genocide hotline” being promoted by Minto, a pro-Palestinian advocate, that gained attention last week and was condemned by both the government and the Human Rights Commissioner.
Interference from a major superpower
Immigration NZ said the incorrect information regarding New Zealand’s position on Israeli migrants was impacting our international reputation. It has also raised concerns about the relationship between the United States and Aotearoa at a time of heightened tensions following the inauguration of president Donald Trump. During a visit to Washington DC last year, PM Christopher Luxon met with lawmakers from across the political spectrum, Ted Cruz among them. At the time, Luxon batted away questions about whether he was courting politicians that could be influential under a Trump presidency. “Senators and committees in the system are really powerful, really influential and it’s really important to have direct relationships with them,” he said at the time, the Herald’s Claire Trevett reported.
Speaking to ThreeNews, international relations expert Robert Patman expressed frustration that incorrect information was being circulated by a high profile US politician. “It’s an extraordinary incident and it constitutes quite serious interference in New Zealand’s domestic affairs,” Patman said. “It’s very disappointing that a senior Republican member of the senate… has actually made such insubstantial claims.”
Trade war sparked after Trump tariffs
Local officials will be hoping to maintain a positive working relationship with the United States. Over the weekend, reported the BBC, president Donald Trump followed through on his promise to introduce new tariffs on neighbouring Mexico and Canada, along with China. The following day, reported CNN, Trump acknowledged that Americans may face some “pain” as a result of his actions, with both Canada and Mexico already moving to retaliate. Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said he had been trying to speak with Trump since his inauguration but still still not made contact. “We don’t want to be here, we didn’t ask for this,” Trudeau said at a press conference. Other countries, New Zealand included, are likely to be caught up in Trump’s plans for sweeping tariffs. Finance minister Nicola Willis told Bloomberg last year that we should be exempt. “Our starting position is please don’t do that,” Willis said in December. “The job that we’ve tasked our diplomats with is to put New Zealand’s absolute best foot forward.”