A person has been arrested after pro-Palestinian demonstrators covered the Auckland offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and US Consulate in red paint to symbolise the blood of Palestinians killed by Israel.
Protesters from the group Tāmaki For Palestine doused the US Consulate on Customs St East and the office of the MFAT on Quay St in downtown Auckland overnight.
The words "ceasefire now" had also been spray-painted on the door of the consulate.
A police spokesperson said officers were first called to the MFAT building after a report of vandalism at 1:50am on Tuesday morning and then to the US Consulate where they found further graffiti.
"One person was arrested and at this stage, our enquiries are in the very early stages to determine the full circumstances," the spokesperson said.
"We ask anyone with information or footage to please contact Police via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report. Please reference event number P056717234. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111."
In a press release, the group said the action was to "make the blood on US and New Zealand officials' hands visible".
The group says the paint represents the "thousands of Palestinian men, women and children killed by Israel over the past 37 days and before".
"New Zealand's approach to international relations condones this; we have yet to condemn Israel or the US's actions, or impose sanctions [as we did towards Russia at the outset of the conflict in Ukraine]."
The group condemned the US money, weapons and diplomatic influence "that support the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza".
The group has called for the US ambassador and consulate to be expelled and for the incoming National-led government to recognise the state of Palestine and call for an immediate cease-fire.
