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Taxpayer Funds Spark Controversy Over Gaza Advocacy Campaign

3/27/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Ethnic Communities Ministry allocated $30,000 of taxpayer funds to the Asturlab Cultural Centre for a Gaza advocacy campaign.
The campaign, titled '4 for 40 Stop the Silence,' accused Israel of genocide.
The money came from the Ethnic Communities Development Fund, which mandates political neutrality.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (NZTU) criticized the funding approval, saying it violated the Fund's neutrality rules.

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Story summary

The Ethnic Communities Ministry allocated $30,000 of taxpayer funds to the Asturlab Cultural Centre for a Gaza advocacy campaign.
The campaign, titled '4 for 40 Stop the Silence,' accused Israel of genocide.
The money came from the Ethnic Communities Development Fund, which mandates political neutrality.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (NZTU) criticized the funding approval, saying it violated the Fund's neutrality rules.