New Zealand has decided not to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced Board of Peace, citing concerns about its current structure and mandate, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement on Friday.
Trump launched the Board of Peace last week, initially presenting it as a mechanism to help stabilize the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, while signaling that he envisions a broader role for the body in addressing other international conflicts. The initiative has drawn interest from a number of countries, particularly in the Middle East, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as emerging nations such as Indonesia. However, several major global powers and traditional U.S. allies have taken a more cautious approach.
Luxon said New Zealand had decided not to accept Trump’s invitation to join the board “in its current form,” indicating that the government was not prepared to participate without greater clarity about its purpose and long-term direction.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters expanded on that position in a post noting that countries from the region most directly affected by the conflict in Gaza have already stepped forward to contribute. He said New Zealand “would not add significant further value” to the board’s work under the current circumstances.
New Zealand recognises the leadership of the United States, in close coordination with nations from the region, on advancing peace in Gaza. We see a role for the Board of Peace in Gaza, to be carried out as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
— Winston Peters (@NewZealandMFA) January 29, 2026
A number of states,…
Peters also emphasized New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations. As a founding member and long-time supporter of the UN, he said it is important that any new international initiative be consistent with and complementary to the UN Charter.
“It is a new body, and we need clarity on this, and on other questions relating to its scope, now and in the future,” Peters said.
The decision highlights a broader hesitation among some U.S. allies toward Trump’s proposed board, as governments weigh its role alongside existing international frameworks and assess how it would operate beyond its initial focus on Gaza.
