The local consequences of selective human rights activism
By Forough Amin
28 April, 2026
One of the large demonstrations staged in Auckland protesting Israel’s attacks on Gaza and its inhabitants since October 2023. Activist groups have lobbied hard for various sanctions and denunciations of Israel, here and around the world.
LAWRENCE SMITH / LAWRENCE SMITH
Forough Amin is an Iranian New Zealander, a commentator and writer on Iran and a women’s rights advocate.
OPINION: On Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 14, Auckland Council’s policy, planning and development committee voted 14–2 to request a report on sanctioning companies linked to Israeli settlement activity. The timing alone is striking. Whether intentional or not, it places a highly contested international issue within a deeply sensitive historical moment.
This move marks a notable moment for activist groups in New Zealand, particularly organisations such as the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), which has been a key advocate behind these efforts. It reflects the growing influence of advocacy networks in shaping how global conflicts are brought into local …