The fence outside Premier House in Wellington has been tagged with pro-Palestine slogans calling for an end to the genocide. 

Red paint has been sprayed on the fence, emblazoning it with the words “Fre Gaza” and “stop the genocide”. 

'Fre Gaza' spray painted in red on the fence outside Premier House in Thorndon, Wellington. Photo / NZME 

The US Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Auckland were also sprayed with red paint early this morning, and tagged with the phrases “save Gaza”, “ceasefire now” and “free Palestine”. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) building on Quay St in Auckland splashed with red paint or fake blood by Tamaki for Palestine protesters on November 14. 

Tensions have been escalating across New Zealand as protests continue - some in support of Palestine and others in support of Israel. At a pro-Palestine rally in Auckland on Saturday a young child was allegedly hit on the head by a shovel-wielding man. 

Hundreds of people gathered in the square around 2pm on Sunday, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.  

A member of New Zealand’s Palestinian community who was at the rally, Rand Hazou, said witnesses described the attacker waiting off to the side on Greys Ave between the Town Hall and the square. 

“At the close of the rally around 5pm, we got a report he had attacked a young child. 

“I spoke to some of the eyewitnesses who had jumped on him and then the police arrested him.” 

• Pro-Palestine protesters splash fake blood on US consulate, MFAT buildings

Superintendent Sunny Patel, the acting Auckland District Commander, said police had arrested a man after a child was seriously hurt as he was leaving a protest. 

Following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel, in which at least 1200 people were killed, Israel’s allies have defended the country’s right to protect itself. But now into the second month of war, there are growing differences over how Israel should conduct its fight. 

The graffiti follows weeks of protest across New Zealand and the world calling on a cease-fire from Israel - but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on Saturday against growing international calls, saying Israel’s battle to crush Gaza’s ruling Hamas militants will continue with “full force”. 

More than 11,070 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and minors, have been killed since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. About 2700 people have been reported missing and are thought to be possibly trapped or dead under the rubble. 

At least 1200 people have been killed in Israel, mainly in the initial Hamas attack, Israeli officials say. 

Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.