New Zealand is deploying a Defence Force team of six “highly trained” people to the Middle East to help provide maritime security in the Red Sea.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the military deployment today at his first post-Cabinet press conference of the year.

The team would be there to provide “precision targeting” through gathering intelligence information. It was expected they would not be directly involved in conflict.

”Houthi attacks against commercial and naval shipping are illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilising,” he said.

”This deployment, as part of an international coalition, is a continuation of New Zealand’s long history of defending freedom of navigation both in the Middle East and closer to home.”

Luxon said the Defence Force team will contribute to the collective self-defence of ships in the Middle East, in accordance with international law, from operational headquarters in the region and elsewhere.

The Prime Minister said NZDF personnel will enter Yemen and the deployment is part of a continuous New Zealand defence contribution to maritime security in the Middle East since 2013.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters also said the joint strikes being carried out by the international coalition are against Houthi military targets which have played a role in attacking commercial and naval vessels.

”These efforts support international security and the free flow of trade on which New Zealanders rely,” Peters said.New Zealand has earlier shown its support for the US and UK led strikes.

Defence Minister Judith Collins also said the Houthi attacks show a “disregard for international law, peace and stability”, and the coalition response is an inevitable consequence of their actions.

Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters and Judith Collins front the first post-Cabinet conference of the year at the Beehive. Photo / Mark Mitchell

”Our NZDF personnel are highly trained and this deployment will see them work alongside their counterparts on an important mission. New Zealand supports global stability and this deployment shows our commitment to efforts to address a serious threat to that stability.”

Peters added its action in the Red Sea should not be conflated with its position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

”Any suggestion our ongoing support for maritime security in the Middle East is connected to recent developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip, is wrong. We are contributing to this military action for the same reason New Zealand has sent defence personnel to the Middle East for decades - we care deeply about regional security because our economic and strategic interests depend on it.”

“I think conflating the two issues is very unhelpful,” Luxon said while saying New Zealand’s decision to deploy had nothing to do with the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The deployment is mandated to conclude no later than July 31.

Asked if he was open to extending the deployment, Luxon reiterated the deployment would end no later than the July 31 deadline.

The countries that the NZ deployment would join included Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. It was not correct to say it was a Five Eyes operation, Luxon said.

Peters said he did not consult the move with the Opposition, saying those parties had been aligned with such a decision in the past.

Collins wouldn’t specify from what branch of the NZDF the personnel would come from, restating they were from the NZDF.

Collins wouldn’t give further information regarding the specific actions of the New Zealand deployment, apart from saying they would assist in targeting Houthi bases that were involved in attacks on vessels.

Luxon wasn’t aware whether the deployment would impact New Zealand’s terrorism threat level.

Asked about the national hui on Saturday organised by Māori in response to Government policies, Luxon accepted it was a significant number of people who showed up but said he had had regular conversations with iwi leaders.

Winston Peters reaffirms NZ’s commitment to two-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict

The first Cabinet meeting of the year comes after Peters passed comment on growing tensions in the Middle-East.

Peters criticised members of the Israeli Government for inflaming tensions and imperilling an eventual two-state solution to the decades-long Israel-Palestinian problem.

New Zealand, and many other nations support the two-state solution, which is Israel living in peace alongside a future Palestinian state.

Members of the current Israeli Government have cast doubt on Israel ever moving towards such a solution, denying Palestinians a state.

Posting to X, formerly Twitter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s desire for “security control” over future Palestinian territory would not be compromised.

“I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over all the territory west of Jordan - and this is contrary to a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu posted.

The post came after talks with United States President Joe Biden about Gaza’s future. The territory west of Jordan includes Israel - and also the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip which would be parts of a future Palestinian state.

Also posting to X, Peters said New Zealand was “deeply concerned at recent comments by members of the Israeli Government that fuel tensions & imperil the two state solution”.

“New Zealand has always supported a two state solution - and has consistently engaged w/Israel & the Palestinians on that basis,” Peters posted.

“The international community is overwhelmingly in favour of a future Palestinian state. Final status issues should be resolved through a revitalised Peace Process, which is needed now more than ever,” Peters said.

Luxon said he expected Israel to abide by international law in its prosecution of the war in Gaza. Those remarks were made after Netanyahu said he might not follow the ruling of the International Court of Justice which is currently hearing a case on the war.

Peters’ remarks came ahead of the first Cabinet meeting of the year. Luxon will head to Rātana Pā tomorrow as the political year gets under way.

Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the press gallery since 2018.