The Government has decided against recognising a Palestinian state at this stage. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, grouping New Zealand with a small handful of countries who have also decided not to make the move.

He said as long as Hamas is the Gaza Strip's de facto government, there is no legitimate State of Palestine for New Zealand to recognise. 

Peters also laid out a list of conditions that would need to be met before New Zealand makes the move - like the release of all hostages, the renouncement of terrorism, and movement toward an actual democracy - among others. 

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