Introduction
New Zealand and Israel maintain close economic, security and military relations. New Zealand acquired among others aircraft radars, combat vehicles, shield systems and surveillance technologies from Israeli companies.
Israel– New Zealand Relations
In 2011, Israel and New Zealand launched the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS), which offers 200 places to New Zealanders to stay and work in Israel for up to 12 months for the purpose of facilitating cultural exchange.[1]Working Holiday Scheme- Embassy of Israel in New Zealand
In 2012, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund excluded 3 Israeli companies (Africa Israel Investments and subsidiary Danya Cebus, Elbit Systems Limited, and Shikun & Binui) from its $20 billion investment portfolio on responsible investment grounds related to the construction of illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[2]New Zealand Superannuation Fund excludes three companies on responsible investment grounds In 2021, the fund further divested $4 million from 5 Israeli banks on similar grounds.[3]Guardians excludes five banks on responsible investment grounds
In 2017, Israel briefly downgraded its diplomatic ties with New Zealand after New Zealand co-sponsored Resolution 2334 (2016) in the United Nations Security Council, which stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories were a “flagrant violation of international law”; the decision was reversed and full diplomatic relations were restored later in the year.[4]Israel’s Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms[5]Israel agrees to restore diplomatic ties with NZ
In 2020, Israel and New Zealand signed an “historic” Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development.[6]Israel and New Zealand Sign Historic Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development
In 2021, New Zealand imports from Israel were worth $110.55 million. Top imports include machinery (including turbo-jets, turbo-propellers, and gas turbines,[7]The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)- Israel and New Zealand nuclear reactors, boilers, plastics, and electronic/electrical equipment.[8]New Zealand Imports from Israel
Military Relations
The New Zealand Securities Commission (NZSC) and Israel Securities Authority (ISA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the exchange of information and surveillance of securities activities in 2005.[9]Memorandum of Understanding between the New Zealand Securities Commission and the Israel Securities Authority on the Exchange of Information and Surveillance of Securities Activities (2005)
In 2019, Israeli company Rafael reported that the army of New Zealand was using its Armor Shield P systems (passive add-on armor for combat vehicles).[10]Armor Shield P- Rafael A year prior, in 2018, it was reported that New Zealand company Vector Ltd. invested in mPrest (an Israel-based private company that supplies command and control software for the Internet of Things (IoT) to large organizations around the world) that was at the time partially owned by Rafael.[11]mPrest Taking Share in $10B Industry from Siemens, ABB, GE
In 2019, Israeli company Roboteam announced that it won a tender to supply the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) with dozens of remotely controlled ground robotic systems; the value of the deal is unclear.[12]Roboteam to Supply Ground Robots to New Zealand[13]News updates- New Zealand army buys Roboteam’s unmanned ground vehicles
In 2020, Jetfield Networks (founded in 2009 in New Zealand) and seven other New Zealand companies were implicated in IAI’s $1.6 billion contract with Azerbaijan that was a part of the alleged money laundering scheme known as the Azerbaijani Laundromat.[14]Israel’s State-Run Aerospace Giant Contributed to Azerbaijani Laundromat, Leaks Reveal[15]NZ’s Jetfield Networks & Larkstone Ltd, the US$142.5 mln tipped into the alleged Azerbaijani Laundromat, and their formally warned NZ company agent Equity Trust International
In June 2022, New Zealand participated in a joint exercise with Australia, the UK, and the US, in which Elbit systems were tested.[16]Autonomous Warrior 2022 Ends With A (Drone Fired) Bang!
New Zealand, along with 25 other nations including Israel, is taking part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, the world’s largest maritime exercise hosted by the US Third Fleet off the coast of Hawaii and Southern California.[17]Israel taking part in RIMPAC 2022, world’s largest maritime exercise
Cyber Security
In November 2020, the New Zealand Herald reported that Cellebrite and BriefCam were among the systems in the NZ Police Department’s digital armory.[18]Audit reveals new facial recognition tech tools in police’s digital armoury In December 2020, the publication Stuff reported that the NZ police have used Cellebrite’s UFED Cloud Analyzer tool since at least 2014.[19]Police using technology riddled with controversy overseas
NSO Group acquired Convexum in 2020; Globes reported that the first countries to use Convexum’s technology were Australia and New Zealand.[20]NSO buys Israeli counter drone co Convexum for $60m
Usage of Israeli Arms
Add-on Armor for Combat Vehicles (Rafael)- used by New Zealand Defense Force
UFED (Cellebrite) – used by New Zealand Police Department
Video Analytics (BriefCam) – used by New Zealand Police Department
Robotic systems (Roboteam) – used by New Zealand Defense Force
EL/M-2022 aircraft radars – used by New Zealand Defense Force
Armor shield P systems (Rafael) – used by New Zealand Defense Force
Human Rights Violations
Amnesty International reported in 2021 that human rights violations were said to have taken place in criminal detention facilities, primarily to asylum-seekers.[21]Aotearoa New Zealand: Please take me to a safe place: The imprisonment of asylum seekers in Aotearoa New Zealand
Additionally, in June 2022, Human Rights Watch submitted a report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child advocating for the removal of secondary school qualification fees, as the HRW’s research found the fees to reduce education accessibility.[22]Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Review of New Zealand, 91st Pre-session, June 2022[23]Amnesty International- New Zealand Report 2021
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