Christchurch City Council’s Finance and Performance Committee voted today to amend the Council’s procurement policy to “…not contract with the list of companies identified by the United Nations Human Rights Council as being involved in the building or maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements” in occupied Palestinian territories.
The staff report recommending this change followed presentations made during the Council’s public forum related to the ongoing Israel – Hamas conflict.
For more information:
See the full text of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.
See the meeting agenda for the staff report, with attached advice previously given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to Environment Canterbury.
The full text of the resolution is that the Finance and Performance Committee:
1. Receives the information in the Procurement Policy: Alignment with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 Report.
2. Notes that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 states that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine territory are illegal under international law.
3. Notes the advice received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Environment Canterbury in relation to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 is included as Attachment A to this report.
4. Notes that the United Nations Human Rights Council has released a list of organisations trading with the illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories as outlined in Attachment B to this report.
5. Notes that the Christchurch City Council does not currently do business with any organisations included on the United Nations Human Rights Council’s list.
6. Confirms the addition of the following language to the Council’s Procurement Policy to reflect its commitment to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, with any exemption being approved by the Chief Executive:
a. “The Council will comply with UN Resolution 2334 and not contract with the list of companies identified by the United Nations Human Rights Council as being involved in the building or maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements. An organisation on the United Nations’ list will only be included on a procurement shortlist in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Chief Executive.”
7. Notes that staff are requested to bring back, for inclusion in the Letter of Expectations to Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL), appropriate direction for CCHL and its subsidiaries to operate in a manner that is consistent with the guidance and advice provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of New Zealand organisations international trade and business dealings.
The staff recommendations were moved by Councillor Harrison-Hunt and seconded by Councillor Templeton, and were carried without a division recording individual votes.
Councillors Barber and Keown requested that their vote against the recommendation be recorded.
Councillors Gough, Henstock and Peters requested that their abstention from the vote be recorded.
Link to meeting minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2024/10/FPCO_20241023_MIN_8552_AT_WEB.htm