One thing the creative community has learned over the past few years is the power of speaking with a collective voice.

More than 350 Aotearoa creatives have come together for a unified message directed at our government - both outgoing and incoming - calling for them to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

A collective calling itself Aotearoa Artists 4 Ceasefire drafted the letter, which has been shared with leaders of each political party that spells out the reasons why New Zeeland must make its voice heard.

The list reads as a who's who of New Zealand creatives - driven by the likes of musician Reb Fountain and actress Danielle Cormack, it includes Oscar winner Keisha Castle-Hughes, Hollywood star Jemaine Clement and fellow actors like Robbie Magasiva, Robyn Malcolm, Miriama McDowell, Antonia Prebble and Sara Wiseman.

Visual artists like Otis Frizzell, Jade Townsend and Sara Moana have put their names to the letter, along with arts leaders and activists such as Cat Ruka, Dominic Hoey, Sam Snedden, Amber Liberty, Moana Maniapoto, Hinemoa Elder and Elyssia Wilson-Heti.

Along with Fountain, the music industry is well represented with Silver Scroll winners the Beths, Troy Kingi, Arts laureate Ladi6, Tom Scott, Tami Neilson, Lydia Cole, Liam Finn, Rob Ruha and Ria Hall among the multitude to speak up.

Fountain states "I do not believe there is any justification for us, as human beings, to condone the killing of children; to betray our humanity whilst witnessing the most egregious acts of violence against the innocent.  

As artists we wield the power of our platforms to amplify the voices of others and affect change.   We unite in solidarity to call on our government to act on our behalf, to promote peace and stop the murder of innocent civilians.  

"Being on the right side of history will never atone for allowing the suffering of others to continue but it can help to stop it and escalating global insecurity. Now is the time for courage not complacency, action not apathy and compassion not killing."    

Cormack adds "This is now a humanitarian crisis. I can’t stand by and witness the displacement and massacre of innocent people and be silent. As stated, we call for respect and protection for all civilians and an end to this violence, regardless of identity."

The letter, titled, ‘Aotearoa Artists Call’, states:

We come together as artists in the creative sector in Aotearoa, New Zealand to appeal to the acting and incoming New Zealand governments to make an unequivocal call for:

• An immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
• An end to violence against all civilians, regardless of their identity.
• Immediate unimpeded humanitarian aid access in and out of Gaza and The West Bank, including such necessities of life as food, water, fuel and medical supplies.
• The reinstatement of water, internet and electricity access to Gaza by Israel.
• An end to the siege and blockade of Gaza and The West Bank.
• The repatriation of all hostages and political prisoners.
• Respect and protection for all civilians.
• Respect and protection for civilian infrastructure - electric, water and sanitation facilities, and residential homes – along with hospitals, churches, mosques, refugee camps and schools.
• Respect and protection for aid workers, medical staff, human rights workers, journalists, and photographers alongside civilian lives.
   

He aha te mea nui o te ao?

He tangata. He tangata. He tangata.

What is the most important thing in the world?

It is people. It is people. It is people.

The New Zealand government is ideally placed to offer diplomatic mediation and support for a political resolution to the crisis in Gaza.  We call on our government to immediately and unequivocally show compassion, love and respect for all the civilians impacted by this conflict regardless of nationality, religion, geopolitical status, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

We ask the New Zealand government to use dialogue to seek justice and reconciliation for all parties through peaceful negotiations.  We appeal to the New Zealand government to work towards Palestinian self-determination and statehood with the goal of an end to Israel’s blockade and occupation of Palestinian territories and a guarantee of Israel’s security through peaceful diplomatic negotiation, not violence.

Artists and creative practitioners are being encouraged to co-sign the letter at the Aotearoa Artists 4 Ceasefire website.

Who has signed so far?

Here is the list of names attached to the Aotearoa Artists 4 Ceasefire:

A.J. Hendry
Adam McGrath
Adam-Luka Turjak
Agate Rubene
Age Prior
Aidee Walker
Alayna Powley
Alesha Ahdar
Alex de Vries
Alex Freer
Alexander Gandar
Alexandria Hodge
Alisha Paul
Alison Bruce
Alistair Deverick
Alternative Jewish Voices
Amanda Peter
Amanda Tito
Amber Liberty
Amelia Reid-Meredith
Amiria Grenell
Amit Noy
Ana Chaya Scotney
Anapela Polataivao
Anji Sami
Anna Edgington
Anoushka Van Rijn
Ant Healey
Anthonie Tonnon
Antonia Prebble
Antonia Te Maioha
Arani Cuthbert
Ariana Hond
Arihia Latham
Arjuna Oakes
Armagan Ballantyne
Aroha Harawira
Atarangi Anderson
Bailey Wiley
Barnaby Weir
Barnie Duncan
Barry Saunders
Beastwars
Bella Kalolo-Suraj
Bella Shanti
Bella Wilson
Belladonna (Bella Cook)
Ben Howe
Benn Rolls Sheppard (DJ Chiccoreli)
Bernie Gruschow
Beth Xia
Bianca Paine
Bob Frisbee
Brenda Liddiard
Brian Ruawai
Briar March
Brooke Singer (French for Rabbits)
Brooke Tyson
Bruce Foster
Bryce Galloway
Cass Mitchell
Cat Ruka
Celia Hext
CHAII
Chelsea Prastiti
Chelsie Preston Crayford
Cherie Mathieson
Chip Matthews
Chris Chetland
Chris Parker
Cindy Muggeridge
Claire Cowan
Claris Harvey
Claudia Jardine
CONJAH
Conrad Wedde
Cushla Dillon
Cushla Donaldson
Dahnu Graham
Dale Copeland
Danielle Cormack
Dave Khan
David Farrier
David Ward
Davidda
Dayne Johnston
De Stevens
Dea Doglione
Deano Shirriffs
Deborah Smith
Delaney Davidson
Dianne Swann
Dick Johnson
Dominic Hooey
Dominique Nicolau
Donna Brookbanks
Dr. Reknaw
Dylan Pharazyn
Dylan Storey
Ebony Lamb
Ed Castelow
EDERA
Eileen Marciana Reid
Eli Joseph
Ella Meg Paulsen
Elroy Finn
Elyssia Wilson-Heti
EMA I’U
Emma Draper
Emma Hart
Erin Banks
Erin Forsyth
Evie Kemp
Ezra Whittaker
Federico Corradi
Fen Ikner
Fenella Stratton
Fingal Pollock
Flip Grater
Flo Wilson
Florence Hartigan
Frances Carter
Frances Young
Francesca Melis
Frankie Adams
Gareth Farry
Gareth Thomas
Gaysorn Thavat
Gerti Gligor
Gina Kiel
Grace Duncan
Grace Newton
Grace Popplewell
Greta Menzies
Guy Montgomery
Hahna Nichols
Hamish Steptoe
Hanelle Harris
Hanna Wiskari
Hannah Ireland
Hannah Pratt
Hariet Ellis
Helen Eccles
Helen Sheehan
Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa
Hinemoa Elder
Hollie Fullbrook
Hollie Smith
Ilya Volykhine
Ingrid Horrocks
Isaac Aesili
Iuni-Katalaina PolataivaoSaute
Jackie Clarke
Jackie van Beek
Jacob Osborne
Jacqui Broughton
Jade Cavalcante
Jade Townsend
Jade Whaanga
Jahra Wasasala
Jake Walker
James Duncan
Jamie Macphail
Jared Turner
Jarod Rawiri
Jaz Kapow
Jazmine Mary
Jed Parsons
Jemaine Clement
Jennifer Cruse
Jenny Mitchell
Jeremy Taylor
Jeremy Toy
Jess B
Jess Charlton
Jess Sayer
Jess Shanks
Jesse Griffin
Jessica Smith
Jo Currie
Johanna Cosgrove
Joni Nelson
Joseph Jowitt
Josh Nelson
Julia Darling
Julia Deans
Justin Beaver
Kara Rickard
Karah Mackie
Kat Walker
Kate Elliott
Kate McGill
Katherine Wyeth
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Kevin Moody
Kiekie
Kiki Miwa
Kirsten Morrell
Kirsty Mason Cooper
KITA
Kura Forrester
Ladi6
Laura Shallcrass
Lauren Barus (Terrible Sons)
Lauren Dunningham
Lauren Gin
Leah Dodd
Lealofitaute Vaai
Leesa Tilley
Liam Finn
Liam Gerrard
Liam Jacobson
Lisa Swinbanks
Lisa Tomlins
Liv McKenzie
Liv Tennet
Liz Kirkman-Jenkins
Louis Baker
Luca Montagni
Lucie Blaze
Lukasz Buda
Luke Rowell
Lydia Cole
Lydia Jenkin
Maaka Pohatu
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper
Mallory Mackenzie
Margaret Scott
Maria Francesca Melis
Marianne Infante
Marianne Muggeridge
Marlins Dreaming
Martin Basher
Mel Parsons
Mel Thompson
Melody Nixon
Mia Straka
Michael Kenna
Michael Prain
Michelle Savill
Miranda Manasiádis
Miriama McDowell
Moana Maniapoto
Morgana O’Reilly
Mustaq Missouri
Myles Allpress
Nat Picking (Nat Pua)
Natalia Sheppard (MC Tali)
Natasha van Etten
Ngaumu Jones
Nick Dwyer
Nick Paulsen
Nikau Te Huki (Casual Healing)
Ooshcon One
Otis Frizzell
Paolo Rotondo
Paul Bosauder
Paul Hutchinson
Peter Daubé
Peter Ruddell
Peter Salmon
Pip Adam
Pixie Lane
Poppy Serano
Princess Chelsea
Proudly Asian Theatre
Rachel House
Reb Fountain
Rebecca ter Borg
Reihana Robinson
Renee Lyons
Reuben Bonner (Banished Music)
Rhian Firmin
Ria Hall
Ria Vandervis
Richard Larsen (Glass Vaults)
Rob Ruha
Robbie Magasiva
Robyn Malcolm
Rocky ManuSaute
Roger (Remo) Morris
Rose Kean
Rose McIvor
Rosemary Peppermint
Ross Murray
Roxie Mohebbi
Ryan Prebble
Ryan Rasmussen
Saebyul
Sam Snedden
Samantha Whitaker
Samara Alofa
Samuel Bailey
Samuel Scott
Sanoi
Sara Moana
Sara Wiseman
Sarah Brontë
Sarah cooper
Sarah Martindale
Sascha Perfect
Scott Mason Cooper
Serena Mani
Shadon Meredith
Shayden Lowrey
Shoshana McCallum
Simon Gooding
Simon London
Sinead Overbye
Siposetu Duncan
Skye Hine
Sofia Mcintyre
Sola Rosa
Sonia Whiteman
Sonia Wilson
Sophia Bayly
Sophie Musgrove
sophie watson
Stacey Morrison
Stella Corkery
Steph Knight
Steph Walker
Steve Abel
Steve Ayson
Su’a Sagapolutele
T’Nealle
Tami Neilson
Tammy Williams
Tarika Sabherwal
Taungaroa Emile
Te Kahureremoa Taumata
Te Kohe Tuhaka
Te Rāwhitiroa Bosch
Teiaro Taikato
Teva Valentine
The Beths
The Small Hall Sessions
Theia
Theo David
Tina Makereti
Tiny Ruins
Tobi Jafa
Tobias Gilsenan
Toby Morris
Todd Waters
Tom Broome
Tom Grut
Tom Hern
Tom Scott
Troy Kingi
Twice the Hype
Vanessa McGowan
Vela Saute
Vera Ellen
Vic Walsh
Warren Duncan
Wayne Morris
William Bricketrs
Yasamin Al-Tiay
Yvette Parsons
Zia Mandviwalla