Hundreds of people remain trapped in Gaza, despite having family members they could reunite with in Aotearoa.
This letter was for Christian leaders, organisations, churches and denominational bodies who would like to endorse the Christians United for Refuge campaign. We delivered this letter and its signatures on March 5th (Ash Wednesday). This campaign was coordinated by Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine, however it was delivered to Parliament as a collective of Christian Leader’s voices under the campaign name of Christians United for Refuge Aotearoa.
To avoid any confusion – this call is about family reunification that Palestinians in Aotearoa have been asking for for over a year. See our FAQ section below for more.
The open letter:
In partnership with Australian Church leaders, we are calling on our respective governments to help families reunite and find safety, by:
1. Granting immediate emergency humanitarian visas to Palestinians in Gaza who have family in New Zealand.
2. Providing sustained diplomatic pressure on the Israeli government to allow visa-holders to safely evacuate from Gaza and humanitarian aid to freely enter.
3. Providing robust resettlement assistance once these families arrive in New Zealand.
Together in Christ, united across the breadth of the Church, we stand for compassion.
Our governments must speak and act boldly to help families in Gaza to safely reunite with their loved ones in Aotearoa. Open the way!
It is not just in our power to do so, it is who we are.
Thank you for considering signing this endorsement. If you would like more resources, we have a small collection we are collating for churches here.
Signatories as of Ash Wednesday, 5 March 2025
On Behalf of Organisation/Church Signatories:
Chief Executive/Kaiwhakahaere Matua Mena Antonio, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
National Director Michael Hartfield, Anglican Missions
Manager, Matt Crawshaw, Bishops Community Development Trust, Anglican Diocese of Wellington
Senior Pastor Duane Major, South West Baptist Church
Co-Directors Kate Day and Alex Johnston, Common Grace Aotearoa
Rev. Rev Jim Consedine, Catholic Worker Movement
Edwina Hughes, Peace Movement Aotearoa
Dr Susan Mary Healy, Pax Christi Aotearoa
Public Theologian Dr. Michael Toy, Student Christian Movement Aotearoa
President Christopher Hawkins, Student Christian Movement Otago
Vicar Richard Bonifant, St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican
Rev. Paul Fletcher, St Tom’s, Newtown
Del Robbie, WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
Priest in Charge Michael Lamont Holdaway, Otago Peninsula Anglican Parish
Pastor Andrew Sangster, West Baptist Community Church, New Plymouth
Spiritual Director and Supervisor Maureen Lamb, St James Anglican Church, Lower Hutt
Kaitiaki team, Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine
Mr Nik Naidu, The Whānau Community Trust
Mr Dave Tims, Baptist, Urban Neighbours of Hope
Rev. Maria Kirkland, St David’s Naenae Anglican Church
Rev. Mark Barnard, St James Māngere Bridge
Rev. Rachel Kitchens, St James Māngere Bridge
Founder Maher Nazzal, Palestine Forum of New Zealand
Personal Signatories:
Bishop of Wellington, The Right Reverend Justin Duckworth
Assistant Bishop of Wellington, The Right Reverend Anashuya Fletcher
Bishop Peter James Cullinane, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North
Anglican Bishop of Christchurch The Right Reverend, Dr Peter Carrell Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Rev. Raawiri (David) Ratu, Te Miihana Maaori (Auckland Anglican Maaori Mission)
Bishop George Connor, Anglican
Chair of the Auckland Diocesan Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relationships (ADCEIR), Bruce Harrison
National Director of NZ Church Missionary Society, Rosie Fyfe NZCMS (New Zealand Church Missionary Society)
Rev. Rebecca Apperley, St Michael and all Angels Anglican Church, Newlands-Papararangi
Lecturer in Old Testament Michael J. Rhodes, Carey Baptist College
Priest-Assistant, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral Rev’d Matthew Maslin, Anglican
Mrs Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab, Anglican/Orthodox
Ms Jennifer Duckworth, Anglican
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Dawson, St Martins-Opawa Anglican Parish
Rev, Jessie Thornton-Black, Anglican
Rev. Miriam Adele Taylor, Nelson Anglican Diocese
Rev. Dr. Janet Crawford, Anglican
Rev. Lucy Flatt, St John’s Anglican Church, Timaru
Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston, St Michael’s Church, Kelburn, Wellington
Rev. Richard Apperley, St Michael and All Angels, Newlands-Paparārangi
Rev Greg Hughson, Te Hahi Weteriana o Aotearoa – Methodist Church of New Zealand
Rev. Lisa Barlow, Anglican
Youth Pastor Byron Behm, St MJ’s Anglican Church, Riccarton-Spreydon
Pastor Priscilla Bilby, C3 Eastern Suburbs
Rev Jennifer Ruth Wilkens, St Barnabas Anglican
Chaplain Dylan Tempero, Delta Community Support Trust
Professor Vivienne Anderson, St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin
Rev. Esther Clarke-Prebble, Anglican Diocese of Dunedin
Rev. Dr. Andrew Nicol, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Rev. Sanele Poluleuligaga, Roman Catholic Church Auckland Diocese
Youth leader Emma Tucker, Windsor Park Baptist Church
Monsignor Gerard Burns, Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington
Cathedral Precentor Ivica Gregurec, Anglican/Holy Trinity Cathedral
Rev. Wilson Zi En Chan, Te Hāhi Mihinare
Dr. Andrew Clark-Howard, St Johns Theological College
Rev. Scottie Reeve, Anglican Diocese of Wellington, Catch Network Aotearoa
Rev. Sebastian Murrihy, Minister, Knox Presbyterian Church Waitara, Lecturer at Knox Centre for Ministry & Leadership
Rev. Prince Devanandan, All Saints Anglican Church, Ponsonby, Diocese of Auckland
Dr. David Robie, Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN)
Parish Clerk, Dr David McNabb, The Community of St Luke, Presbyterian Church Remuera-Newmarket
Dr. Peter James Bray, Catholic Church
Mr Peter Bernard Archer, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, All Saints by the Sea Parish, Papamoa Coast, BOP. and member, Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
Mrs Elizabeth Mary Beazley, Catholic, Pax Christi Whangārei
Emeritus Professor Chris Marshall
Canon Judith Claire Brown, Otago Peninsula Anglican Parish
Rev. Chris Sullivan, Catholic Deacon
Deacon Rev’d Scott Parekowhai, Anglican/Mihingare
Rev. Jacqui Stevenson, Anglican
Rev. Peter John Beck, Anglican
Rev. Andy Dickson, Anglican
Teacher and Pastor Nicola Griffiths, Baptist
Dr. John Harvey Tucker, Baptist
Dr. George Wieland, Baptist
Associate Chaplain, Massey University, Wellington, Dr. Mary Hutchinson, Anglican
Michael John Beazley, Pax Christi Aotearoa (Catholic)
Lead Ecumenical Chaplain Rev Olivia Dawson, Otago Tertiary
Chaplaincy Trust Board
Pastor Andrew Meek, Baptist
Rev. Hamish Dobbie, Anglican Diocese of Wellington
Dr Anne Phillips, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul
PhD Student/Lecturer, Immanuel Koks, University of Otago
Reverend Grace Cox, Anglican church
Dr. Stuart Vogel, Presbyterian church
Leader Amy Sutherland, Porirua Gospel Chapel
The Very Revd Dr Tony Curtis, St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin
Rev. Grant David Ridout, St James Presbyterian, Moturoa, New Plymouth
Associate Pastor, David Diack, Manurewa Baptist
Kirstin Cant, Order of Urban Vision
Psychotherapist Beth St Claire, Emergence Therapy
Associate Professor Dr. Philip Pattemore
Mrs Marjorie Smart, Diocesan Bicultural Education Committee, Anglican
Leader Bradley Nicolson, Baptist
Dr. Teacher Christa McKirland, Baptist
Convenor Bi-Cultural Committee, Kevin McBride, St Patrick’s Catholic, Greymouth
Wanjiru Muriuki, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Etienne Wain, Diocese of Wellington, Anglican Church
Minister Stuart McGregor, Cityside Baptist Church
Lecturer Dr. Krista McKirkland, Carey Baptist College