New Zealand Ministry of 
 
Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Manatū Aorere   
 
24 October 2024 
195 Lambton Quay 
Private Bag 18−901 
 
Wellington 6160 
 
New Zealand 
 
John Wilson 
T    +64 4 439 8000 
F    +64 4 472 9596 
[FYI request #28426 email] 
 
OIA 29725 
 
Tēnā koe John Wilson 
 
Thank you for your email of 18 September 2024, transferred from the Department of the 
Prime Minister and Cabinet on 30 September 2024, in which you request the following under the 
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA): 
I am requesting information regarding the recent attacks attributed to the Israeli state in 
Lebanon, where at least eight people, including a child, were killed and thousands were 
wounded due to exploding pagers. 
Should a specific group or individuals be identified as responsible for these acts, will the 
New Zealand government impose sanctions on the perpetrators? Please provide information 
on the potential sanctions measures and the implementation process. 
New Zealand can only impose sanctions in two ways: through the domestic implementation of 
sanctions as mandated by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council; or targeted 
sanctions under the Russia Sanctions Act in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. New 
Zealand does not have legislation enabling the imposition of other autonomous sanctions.  
The United Nations sanctions regimes are long-standing. In the current international climate, it 
can be challenging for existing United Nations sanctions to be amended or additional sanctions 
imposed in response to new developments. 
However, New Zealand has established a travel ban regime against some extremist Israeli 
settlers who undermined stability in the West Bank through illegally settling in the area, 
perpetrating violence and displacing Palestinian civilians from their homes. 
Please note that it is our policy to proactively release our responses to official information 
requests where possible. Therefore, our response to your request (with your personal information 
removed) may be published on the Ministry website: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/contact-
us/official-information-act-responses/  
If you have any questions about this decision, you can contact us by email at: 
[email address]. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the 
Ombudsman of this decision by contacting www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 
0800 802 602. 
Nāku noa, nā 
 
Sarah Corbett 
for Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
e   [email address]  
w   www.mfat.govt.nz 

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