Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters talks to RNZ after his announcement that New Zealand will not be recognising a Palestinian state.
Peters talks to RNZ political reporter Anneke Smith after setting out New Zealand's position on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly.
The State of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign nation by 157 of the 193 UN member states, representing 81 percent of the international community.
While other countries such as Australia, Canada, France and the UK have recognised a Palestinian state in recent days, Peters refused to be drawn on New Zealand's position.
"We've been waiting 80 long years for an answer here, and a few days finding out all the facts will not be wasted," Peters said earlier this week.
Peters has been intent on listening to the perspectives of all countries while on the ground in New York this week, saying he was there "to hear everybody's view".
Cabinet had been considering the question of recognition since the start of the month, on the basis it was a matter of it being a "when, not if" situation.
The move to recognise a Palestinian state has been condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas welcomed the move but said it must be accompanied by "practical measures" to end the war in Gaza and prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank.
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