Dunedin Councillors Receive Thousands of 'Highly Organized' Emails After Supporting Green Party Bill

Dunedin City Council members have been inundated with over 2,200 emails following their support for the Green Party's proposal to impose sanctions on Israeli politicians. This wave of emails, described as a 'highly orchestrated' campaign, has sparked concern and debate within the local government and the wider community.

The emails, which arrived in a coordinated surge on July 7, were reportedly sent from a group based in the United States. They criticized the council's stance on the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, which seeks to sanction Israeli ministers, Knesset members, and military leaders who support the occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The bill draws parallels to the sanctions imposed on Russian leaders for their actions in Ukraine.

Councillor Christine Garey, who introduced the motion, described the emails as 'carefully crafted' and said they were 'highly orchestrated'. She noted that the emails, which began flooding in around 1:30 AM, each had a slightly different subject line and were sent to the mayor and councillors with a CC list that included New Zealand and U.S. leaders.

'It was a campaign,' Garey said. 'It says to me that we have made an impact... we touched a nerve and, to be honest, it's a badge of courage because it attracted this attention.'

The council's IT staff blocked the senders of the emails shortly after receiving the reports. This incident followed a vote by the Community Services Committee on June 23, where the council supported a motion for the mayor to write to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, urging them to back the bill.

While the council had previously called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for humanitarian visas for the families of New Zealand's Palestinian community, this latest wave of emails was far more intense than any previous backlash. Garey emphasized the importance of the issue and the need to continue advocating for the Palestinian community in Dunedin.

In a statement, Dunedin City Council's chief information officer, Graeme Riley, confirmed that each councillor received a total of 2,284 emails between July 4 and 14 relating to the Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill. He noted that while it is not uncommon for the council to receive bulk emails on contentious issues, this case was at the extreme end of the spectrum in terms of volume.

The council has not taken any further action in response to the emails, but the incident has highlighted the growing global and local tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has also underscored the role of local governments in addressing international issues and the potential consequences of taking a stance on such matters.