A motion condemning the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, failed to pass in New Zealand’s Parliament last week after the Green Party objected to its wording, despite cross-party attempts to find consensus.
The Islamist terror attack, which killed 26 Hindus, drew strong condemnation from New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. But efforts to formally record Parliament’s stance ended in deadlock.
On May 5, ACT Party MP Parmjeet Parmar introduced a draft motion seeking Parliament’s agreement to three key points: condemning the terror attack, offering condolences to the victims, and acknowledging the grief experienced by the Indian New Zealand community.
However, the Green Party refused to support the motion as worded, citing concerns over its alignment with Parliament’s Standing Orders. Under parliamentary rules, motions without notice can only be adopted with unanimous agreement — meaning a single party’s objection can block it.
Attempting to build consensus, ACT delayed tabling the motion until May 6. During negotiations, the Green Party proposed an alternative version, stripping references to “terror attack” and Indian New Zealanders.
Their version read:
“That this House express its deepest condolences to those who lost family and friends in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April.”
Labour offered a middle-ground option, stating:
“That this House condemn the terrorist attack that occurred in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April and express its deepest condolences to those who lost family and friends in this tragic event.”
ACT indicated it was open to Labour’s version, but the Green Party held firm, saying only its own version was acceptable. Te Pāti Māori backed the Green Party’s wording.
On May 6, Parmar proceeded with the original motion in the House, where it was rejected on a voice vote due to the lack of unanimous support.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender, Green Party whip Ricardo Menéndez March defended his party’s position, saying the ACT motion violated procedural rules:
“We would have been entirely supportive of a statement of that kind on the tragic Kashmir attack, consistent with the types of Motions without Notice that are regularly used in the House.”
Observers have noted a contrast between the party’s stance now and in 2019, when it supported a similar motion condemning the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and a synagogue shooting in San Diego.
At the time, then-Green co-leader Marama Davidson had said,
“The Green Party too absolutely stands with this House in condemning both the attack against Christians… and those worshipping at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in San Diego.”
Te Pāti Māori, meanwhile, clarified to The Indian Weekender that they would not have blocked ACT’s original motion if it had come to a vote.
“Te Pāti Māori did not ask for the wording to be changed… We agreed with alternate wording provided by the Green Party as a fair compromise for cross-party support,”
a spokesperson said.
“We do not wish to politicise pain and suffering, or fuel tensions in these heightened times. We condemn all forms of violence. Our condolences are with those who lost their loved ones to these senseless killings.”
The episode has sparked debate in the Indian diaspora about recognition of targeted violence and consistency in the way Parliament responds to international acts of terror.
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