Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
New Zealand is among a dwindling group of nations that have not yet taken steps to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Palestinian recognition has gained momentum in the run up to leaders week at the United Nations General Assembly.
The UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal all recognised a Palestinian state at the weekend. France followed suit on Tuesday morning and four other states were expected to do so at the meeting ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
The United Nations conference on a two state solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, resumes in New York on Tuesday (NZ time).
The government has been resolute New Zealand will wait to announce its position; Prime Minister Christopher Luxon telling Morning Report on Monday "it's not a race".
Most countries have sent their heads of state, though Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is representing New Zealand.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said Luxon's "primary focus for travel this year has been on trade and the Indo-Pacific".
"Winston Peters is a highly respected Foreign Affairs Minister who will represent New Zealand very well at the UN," they said.
Peters will sit in on the two-state soution conference for three hours on Tuesday to listen to what other countries have to say about the 'New York Declaration'.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters sits down with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: RNZ / Anneke Smith
New Zealand voted in favour of a non-binding resolution endorsing this declaration, that effectively sets out a phased plan to end the conflict, in July.
Peters will outline Cabinet's final decision in his general debate speech on Saturday morning (NZ time), after taking further soundings on the ground this week.
New Zealand's position on Palestinian recognition appears to be an increasingly isolated one; with more than three quarters of UN members states already recognising statehood.
Cabinet has proceeded on an "if, not when" basis, while repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire, for Hamas to release its hostages and for Israel to respect international law.
United Nations investigators have accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, though the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - the United Nations' 'court' - is yet to deliver its verdict.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters with former US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown in New York. Photo: RNZ / Anneke Smith
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour told First Up New Zealand's sober and sensible approach will give its decision more significance.
"When the New Zealand government does announce its position I think it will carry additional weight because it clearly has been done in a careful and deliberative way."
Ukraine
Peters began his first day on the ground in New York with a breakfast meeting with former US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown at the New Zealand residence.
He then sat down with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the assembly, just a few weeks after Defence Minister Judith Collins' in-person visit to Kyiv.
Sybiha thanked Peters for New Zealand's support for Ukraine's fight for territorial integrity and invited Peters to visit his country, as Collins had.
Peters replied that had actually been to Kyiv 18 years ago.
"I remember it very well," Peters said.
"Our colleague Judith Collins has passed on the seriousness and the significant of her visit to your country. Clearly we're very much concerned as to what has happened and New Zealand stands fully behind the people of Ukraine for this totally unacceptable invasion," Peters said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister is in New York all week, attending a series of bilateral meetings with other countries in the run up to his speech to the assembly on Saturday.
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