Air New Zealand’s contract with the Saudi military is an unacceptable breach of international obligations and New
Zealanders’ trust, said Oxfam today, as the aid agency called for the government’s investigation into the deal to be
made public.
The $3m contract, signed by Air New Zealand in 2019 to repair critical engine components for Saudi naval vessels, is
more than twice the value of New Zealand’s humanitarian assistance last year to the conflict in Yemen – the world’s
worst humanitarian crisis.
“With one hand, New Zealanders are donating critical funds through government and humanitarian agencies to save lives in
Yemen, while with another, a New Zealand company, of which the New Zealand government is a majority stakeholder, is
supporting the military accused by the UN of war crimes during this crisis,” said Oxfam New Zealand’s executive
director, Rachael Le Mesurier. “The New Zealand public deserves an investigation that answers the question of whether or
not this country has failed to live up to its legal and ethical obligations to the international community.”
Le Mesurier said the fact Air New Zealand could not answer whether its remaining military contracts were aiding
international humanitarian crimes must spark a bigger conversation about how we hold New Zealand businesses to account.
“It all points to the need for stronger measures to monitor and ensure New Zealand corporate compliance with human
rights in their overseas operations.”
Since 2015, Saudi Arabia and its military coalition partners have been parties to the conflict in Yemen’s vicious civil
war, leading the fighting and preventing shipments of life-saving supplies by air, land and sea– committing, the UN say,
clear violations of International Humanitarian Law.
“Yemenis were looking to the people and Government of New Zealand to help put a stop to these outrageous violations; not
enable them,” said Le Mesurier. “By providing services to the Saudi Navy, implicated in potential war crimes, Air New
Zealand has bought a share of the blame for the resulting humanitarian catastrophe.”
After more than five years of war, over 24 million Yemenis – eighty per cent of the population – are in need of
humanitarian assistance, with almost 4 million people displaced and half a million facing starvation. Saudi Arabia’s
military has enforced intermittent blockades on Yemen ports, disrupting humanitarian access and preventing imports of
food, water and medical supplies.
Le Mesurier said while it was good that Air New Zealand has since cancelled work on the contract, and the Government has
announced an investigation into how it could have been approved in the first place, it raises serious questions about
the processes in place to monitor such deals. "Oxfam welcomes these first steps, but this contract suggests that many
serious ethical failures occurred at many levels,” she said.
“Both Kiwis and the people of Yemen deserve better from the New Zealand government and the companies they trust. The
prime minister must urgently deliver answers on whether this contract violated New Zealand’s international legal
obligations, such as under the Arms Trade Treaty; and whether export control procedures were followed, and on what basis
the contract was approved.
“If Air New Zealand – a company in which the government itself owns the majority of the shares – can circumvent export
controls, what confidence do we have other companies aren't doing the same?”, she asked.
Ibtisam Sageer Al Razehi, a 35-year-old former teacher and mother of three, lives with her children in the remains of
the family house in Sa’ada city in Yemen, which was damaged by missiles and artillery fire. Her husband was killed by an
airstrike in 2015.
“I lost my husband, my children lost their father, we lost the breadwinner and because of war I also lost my salary as
our last hope for living,” she said.
“Humanitarian aid has decreased a lot; now we receive food every two months instead of every month. I appeal to the
world to have mercy on the children of Yemen and stop this war. We are very tired of living in war for years, we lost
everything beautiful in our lives, even the simple hope of peace.’’