Sheree Trotter, at The Blogs

Oct 16, 2022, 11:16 AM

Israel and Māori connect on geothermal project

Ambassador Ran Yaakoby & Ngahihi-o-te-Ra Bidois, Chair of Tauhara North No2 Trust, greet one another with a traditional hongi.

Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand, Ran Yaakoby, recently met with members of the Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa tribe, whose traditional territory lies between Lakes Taupo and Rotorua in New Zealand’s North Island. Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa are not the largest tribe in...

Apr 21, 2021, 5:23 PM

Māori and Israelis: Peoples of the land

While Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970, for indigenous peoples, living in close connection with the environment and being caretakers of the land is part of the culture, hence Māori...

Oct 25, 2020, 7:49 AM

Māori-Israeli Ties Strengthened

Images: © 2018 Perry Trotter, used with permission.

During the recent Covid 19 lockdown, a small hui (meeting) was held in Northland between members of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) and outgoing Israeli Ambassador, HE Dr Itzhak Gerberg and his wife Shifra. This was the culmination of a...

Apr 29, 2020, 12:38 AM

New Zealand’s Exuberant Zionist Prime Minister

In 1948 NZ Prime Minister Peter Fraser was criticised for his ‘Zionist exuberance’ by one of his most senior officials, at a time when the NZ government was vigorously debating recognition of the state of Israel. Peter Fraser’s biographers described...

Aug 10, 2018, 6:52 AM

The Forging of Māori/Israel Friendship

“I want to be your friend” These were the words of Māori tribal elder Pat Ruka to the Israeli ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Dr Itzhak Gerberg, in a warm and moving ceremony recently held in the traditional Māori...

Aug 1, 2018, 12:20 AM

Historic Māori-led apology to Israel

History was made on 29 July 2018 when the indigenous people of New Zealand organised a special ceremony to honour and welcome the Israeli ambassador, His Excellency Dr. Itzhak Gerberg. Led by Ngapuhi kaumatua (elder) Pat Ruka, and joined...

Dec 1, 2017, 6:07 AM

An Gathering of Indigenous Peoples in Israel

A report on the Welcoming the King of Glory conference held in Abu Ghosh/Kiryat Ye’arim, October 10-13, 2017. A number of Pacific and Māori communities have, over a long period, spoken of a “deep sea canoe vision” from the Pacific...

Oct 27, 2017, 7:14 AM

The Balfour Declaration at the Ends of the Earth

The Balfour Declaration has been exploited for political purposes by both supporters and opponents of the Jewish state. The following historical narrative situates the Balfour Declaration within the context of a small Jewish community at the ‘ends of the...

Nov 4, 2015, 9:20 AM

NZ’s UNSC Proposal: Even Handed or Empty Handed?

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister McCully is currently circulating a draft United Nations Security Council resolution, purportedly seeking to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table. His reference to ‘New Zealand's character of having a reputation for even-handedness and...

Sep 8, 2015, 4:41 AM

A Palestinian Voice of Realism

Palestinian Human Rights activist, Bassem Eid, recently visited New Zealand bringing a fresh perspective on the plight of the Palestinians. Eid grew up in the Shu’afat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, where he lived for the first 33 years...

About Me

Dr Sheree Trotter is a researcher, writer and co-director of the Indigenous Coalition For Israel. She is also co-founder of Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation, Aotearoa New Zealand (formerly Shadows of Shoah). Sheree is Māori (Te Arawa) and earned her PhD in History at the University of Auckland. Her thesis was on Zionism in New Zealand .

Contact Me