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"Aotearoa's Complicity in Genocide: How Judith Collins and the Atlas Network Pipeline Profits from Māori Betrayal" - 30 October 2025

Tracing the Money, Networks, and Tikanga Violations Behind New Zealand’s Direct Enabling of Gaza Atrocity

Ivor Jones The Māori Green Ltn

30 Oct 2025 — 13 min read

Kia ora tātou,

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/577215/nz-defence-force-deploys-liaison-officer-to-israel

On October 28, 2025, while over 67,000 Palestinians lay dead in Gaza—including more than 18,500 children—Defence Minister Judith Collins deployed a New Zealand Defence Force liaison officer to Israel to work from a United States-led Civil Military Coordination Centre. This isn’t peacekeeping. This is complicity. Collins, whose career has been marked by corporate corruption scandals including the Oravida affair where she leveraged ministerial power for her husband’s business interests, now embeds Aotearoa’s military into the command structure overseeing a genocide actively enabled by $21.7 billion in US military aid to Israel since October 2023.

The real story isn’t about “monitoring peace”—it’s about who profits from war, who’s pulling the strings, and which Māori values this government tramples to serve their American masters.

Te Whakapapa: Historical Roots of This Betrayal

Aotearoa’s military relationship with Israel stretches back decades through the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Peninsula, where we’ve maintained troops since 1982. But this deployment is qualitatively different. The US Central Command’s Civil-Military Coordination Center opened October 17, 2025 in Kiryat Gat, 20 miles from Gaza, staffed by 200 US personnel to “facilitate humanitarian assistance” while Israeli forces continue their bombardment. Palestinian health authorities report 67,075 people killed and 169,430 injured as of October 3, 2025, with nearly a third of the dead under age 18.

This isn’t peacekeeping—it’s greenwashing genocide.

The Collins government represents the latest iteration of neoliberal capture perfected under Roger Douglas’s Rogernomics in the 1980s. That same ideological DNA runs through the Atlas Network, which links 550 right-wing think tanks globally including New Zealand’s Taxpayers’ Union and New Zealand Initiative. ACT Party leader David Seymour—now Collins’s coalition partner—worked for Atlas Network affiliate Frontier Centre for Public Policy in Canada, and Atlas Network chair Debbi Gibbs’ father helped found the ACT party.

This isn’t coincidence. It’s coordination.

The Issue: Decoding the Doublespeak

Let’s dissect Collins’s statement with surgical precision. She claims the liaison officer will “improve New Zealand’s understanding of co-ordination efforts on the ground”. Logical Fallacy: Appeal to Authority combined with Euphemistic Language. What “coordination” means in practice: BlackSky Technology satellites launched from Māhia Peninsula under Collins’s approval as Space Minister provide high-resolution imagery to Israel under a secret $150 million contract. These satellites enable target acquisition for airstrikes that have killed over 18,500 children.

Collins says this deployment helps with the “20-Point Peace Plan to end the war in Gaza”. Logical Fallacy: Misleading Framing. The so-called peace plan keeps Israeli forces in Gaza indefinitely while demanding Hamas disarm—a recipe for permanent occupation, not peace. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explicitly stated the international stabilization force “must be composed of people and countries that Israel is comfortable with”—meaning compliant parties like New Zealand willing to legitimize Israeli control.

The Dog-Whistle Terms: “coordination hub,” “monitoring implementation,” “sustained peace” all obscure the material reality that this centre exists to manage the aftermath of genocide while Israel maintains military control. The Omitted Context: New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, automatically sharing information with the United States. Lawyers called for an inquiry into whether NZ intelligence shared through Five Eyes was enabling Israeli operations in Gaza. Intelligence gathered by our liaison officer will flow directly to US CENTCOM and from there to Israel, as evidenced by previous Five Eyes intelligence sharing on Israel-Iran operations.

Main Analysis: Follow the Money, Expose the Networks

The Financial Trail

Who Profits: The United States has provided $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel since October 2023, with arms sales agreements totaling an additional $10.1 billion since Trump took office January 2025. This includes tens of thousands of bombs, 196 F-16 fighters, 75 F-15s, 39 F-35s, and 46 Apache helicopters—the arsenal flattening Gaza. The Quincy Institute’s William D. Hartung states explicitly: “Israel could not have inflicted the damage seen in Gaza or escalated their military engagements throughout the region without US funding, weaponry, and political backing”.

New Zealand doesn’t just observe this—we enable it. Collins approved BlackSky Gen-3 satellite launches from Māhia in 2023. Intelligence Online reported BlackSky has a $150 million contract supplying “high temporal frequency images and analysis” to Israel’s Defence Ministry. These satellites capture imagery every hour, providing real-time targeting data. After losing two of their own satellites in summer 2024, Israel became “more than ever” dependent on US commercial satellite imagery, including BlackSky.

The Amounts: BlackSky’s international defence customer (widely reported as Israel) contributed 16% of Q1 2024 revenue. The company’s Gen-3 constellation, now launching from Aotearoa soil, provides AI-enabled object detection and classification. Collins, as both Defence Minister and Space Minister, personally approved these launches while deploying NZDF personnel to the coordination centre overseeing Israeli operations.

Personnel Networks: The Collins-ACT-Atlas Connection

Judith Collins has a 20-year history of conflicts of interest favoring corporate power. The Oravida scandal of 2014 exemplifies her modus operandi: while Justice Minister, she visited Shanghai offices of Oravida—a milk exporter where her husband David Wong-Tung served as director—during an official government trip. She met with Oravida executives and a Chinese border official after the company lobbied government for help with export issues. Oravida subsequently donated $50,000 to National. When caught, Collins initially sought official briefings, then claimed it was “private”. Prime Minister John Key gave her a “final warning”.

This pattern—leveraging ministerial power for connected businesses, obscuring the relationships, then claiming no wrongdoing—repeats with Israeli military contracts.

The Coalition Structure: National’s coalition agreement with ACT and NZ First, signed November 24, 2023, cemented the most right-wing government in Aotearoa’s modern history. The agreement eliminated co-governance, scrapped Māori Health Authority, ended Three Waters reform, and adopted ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. David Seymour, whose previous employment with Atlas Network affiliate Frontier Centre connects him directly to the global neoliberal infrastructure, secured the position of Minister for Regulation—giving him veto power over government policy.

International Networks: The Atlas Network, founded 1981 by Antony Fisher, operates 550 think tanks across 100+ countries promoting “individual liberty, property rights, limited government, and free markets.” In Aotearoa, this includes:

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (founded by Jordan Williams): Received $2.8 million in donations in 2022, with tobacco companies contributing just 2.1% but Atlas Network connections providing strategic direction. The TPU spent $371,565 campaigning in the 2023 election.
New Zealand Initiative: Hosts lunches with David Seymour to discuss ACT policy platforms.

These organizations don’t just advocate—they write policy. The National-ACT coalition agreement reads like an Atlas Network playbook: privatization, deregulation, eliminating “race-based” policies (attacking Māori rights), and strengthening ties to US military interests.

Rhetoric vs Reality: The “Peace” That Enables Genocide

The Claim: Collins states the liaison officer will help “implement the 20-Point Peace Plan to end the war in Gaza”.

The Reality: As of October 3, 2025, the fragile ceasefire has seen Palestinian deaths rise to 67,075 with 169,430 wounded. Israeli forces have not withdrawn but repositioned to “defensive-only” positions while maintaining control. The ceasefire agreement requires Hamas disarm under “independent monitors”—but Netanyahu stated explicitly that Israeli forces will remain and if it must be done “the hard way,” Israel will do so.

The Comparative Analysis: Trump warned Israel could resume fighting in Gaza “as soon as I say the word” if Hamas doesn’t comply. The Civil-Military Coordination Centre Collins joined isn’t neutral—it’s commanded by US CENTCOM and staffed by 200 US military personnel whose primary mission is maintaining US strategic interests. The centre uses surveillance drones over Gaza approved by Israel to provide “independent” monitoring—but these drones serve to verify compliance with Israeli demands, not protect Palestinian rights.

Historical Pattern: Aotearoa as US Deputy

This deployment follows a clear pattern of Aotearoa subordinating foreign policy to US interests:

2024: Extended NZDF deployment in Red Sea supporting US Operation Prosperity Guardian against Yemen’s blockade of Israel
2024: Used MBIE’s Cobwebs Technologies (Israeli spyware) for “maritime mass arrival prevention”—surveillance tools that Palestinian communities warned could monitor Gaza communications
2024: Refused to investigate whether GCSB/NZSIS intelligence shared through Five Eyes was enabling Israeli operations in Gaza, despite detailed legal request from academics and lawyers
September 2025: Refused to recognize Palestinian statehood while every close ally except US did so, with Winston Peters claiming it would “complicate” peace efforts

The Data: New Zealand has 26 NZDF personnel deployed across various Middle East operations, including Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai and support roles in US Central Command. Our $6 billion arms procurement budget is 60% sourced from the United States. We’re not independent—we’re integrated into US military infrastructure.

Network Revelation: The Satellite-Surveillance-Genocide Pipeline

Here are the specific connections exposing how Collins profits from and enables genocide:

Judith Collins personally approved BlackSky Gen-3 satellite launches from Māhia Peninsula as Space Minister in 2023 despite being warned they could be used by Israel
BlackSky has a $150 million contract with Israel’s Defence Ministry for high-frequency imagery used in targeting
Collins simultaneously serves as Defence Minister deploying liaison officers to the coordination centre receiving intelligence from these same satellite systems
Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck, who launches BlackSky satellites, received government approval despite warnings from Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa that these satellites assist war crimes
Collins is coalition partner with David Seymour (ACT), who worked for Atlas Network affiliate and now controls regulatory policy, enabling corporate interests including defence contractors

Tikanga Violations: Which Values Are Attacked

Whanaungatanga (Relationships/Connection): By embedding NZDF in a US military command structure serving Israeli interests, the government severs our relationships with Palestinian whānau in Aotearoa and globally. The 60% of New Zealanders who supported immediate ceasefire in 2023 are ignored.

Manaakitanga (Care/Hospitality): Blocking humanitarian aid—Israel halved aid trucks in response to slow hostage returns—while providing military “coordination” violates fundamental obligations of care. Over 70% of Gaza’s medical facilities are destroyed; famine conditions affect 1.1 million people.

Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship): Launching surveillance satellites that enable targeting of civilians transforms Māhia Peninsula from a place of mana to an accomplice in genocide. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa explicitly warned Collins these launches breach international law.

Wairuatanga (Spirituality): The spiritual harm of participating in genocide—18,500 children killed—cannot be quantified but echoes through generations. Our tūpuna who fought colonial oppression would weep at this betrayal.

Kotahitanga (Unity): The coalition government deliberately divides our nation along racial lines through the Treaty Principles Bill while uniting with the world’s most brutal military powers.

Rangatiratanga (Self-determination): Subordinating foreign policy to US strategic interests denies Palestinian self-determination and our own sovereignty. Peters’ refusal to recognize Palestinian statehood—contradicting 157 nations—proves we’re US vassals, not independent.

Aroha (Love/Compassion): Where is aroha for the 67,075 dead, the 169,430 wounded? Collins shows aroha only for corporate profits and American approval.

Hidden Connections: Five Specific Revelations

Judith Collins serves simultaneously as Defence Minister deploying NZDF liaison officers AND Space Minister approving BlackSky satellite launches targeting Gaza, creating a direct financial-military-surveillance pipeline where the same minister enables targeting and “monitors” the results.
National Party received donations from Oravida (Collins’s husband’s company) while Collins was Justice Minister meeting with Chinese officials to help the company, establishing a clear precedent of leveraging ministerial power for donor interests—the same pattern now playing out with defence contractors.
ACT leader David Seymour worked for Atlas Network affiliate Frontier Centre for Public Policy in Canada, and Atlas Network chair Debbi Gibbs’ father helped found ACT, connecting the party directly to the global neoliberal network promoting privatization and US military alignment.
New Zealand refused to investigate whether Five Eyes intelligence sharing enabled Israeli operations in Gaza despite detailed legal request, while simultaneously embedding NZDF in the US CENTCOM structure coordinating Israeli military operations.
Winston Peters refused to recognize Palestinian statehood in September 2025—contradicting Australia, UK, Canada and 157 total nations—while deploying military personnel to support Israeli operations one month later, proving the coalition’s Gaza policy serves only US and Israeli interests.

Implications: Quantified Harm and Threatened Rights

The Numbers Don’t Lie:

67,075 Palestinians killed (30% children)
169,430 wounded
90% of Gaza’s 2.2 million population displaced
70%+ of medical facilities destroyed
1.1 million facing catastrophic food insecurity

Threatened Rights: By participating in the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, Aotearoa risks:

International Criminal Court prosecution for aiding and abetting genocide—the same jurisdiction that issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant
Violation of Genocide Convention obligations to prevent genocide, which the International Court of Justice ruled Israel may be committing
Complicity in illegal occupation, as ICJ ruled Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories violates international law
Erosion of nuclear-free, independent foreign policy that defines Aotearoa’s international identity

The International Context: The US provides this level of support because Israel serves as its forward military base controlling Middle Eastern oil routes and containing Iran. Aotearoa’s participation makes us complicit in this imperial project. When the history is written, we’ll be recorded alongside those who enabled atrocity, not those who resisted it.

Whakamutunga: Specific Actions Required

The Māori Green Lantern Fighting Misinformation And Disinformation From The Far Right

This government has violated every core value of Te Tiriti and international law. The evidence is overwhelming:

Judith Collins personally profits from war through the satellite-surveillance-genocide pipeline
The coalition implements Atlas Network ideology prioritizing corporate profits over human rights
New Zealand subordinates foreign policy entirely to US strategic interests
67,075 Palestinians are dead, with our government’s active participation

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Immediate Demands:

Recall the NZDF liaison officer from Israel immediately
Suspend all BlackSky satellite launches from Māhia Peninsula pending independent investigation into war crimes complicity
Launch inquiry into Collins’s conflicts of interest regarding defence contracts and Space Ministry approvals
Recognize Palestinian statehood immediately and restore independent foreign policy
Withdraw from Five Eyes intelligence sharing related to Gaza operations
Prosecute government officials who approved actions violating Genocide Convention obligations

Long-term Actions:

Dismantle Atlas Network influence by banning foreign funding of political advocacy groups
Enshrine Treaty principles protecting partnership, not Seymour’s “equality” that erases Māori rights
Mandate independent foreign policy legislatively prohibiting subordination to US military interests
Support Palestinian liberation materially through direct aid, BDS enforcement, and diplomatic isolation of Israel

Contact your MP. Join Palestine solidarity protests. Divest from companies profiting from genocide. This government acts in our name—we must withdraw our consent.

The blood of 67,075 Palestinians, including 18,500 children, cries out for justice. Collins and her coalition partners offer only complicity wrapped in the language of “peace.” We know better. Our tūpuna taught us better.

Kia kaha. Kia māia. Kia manawanui.

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