In August 2019, Peter was appointed Director on Amnesty’s International Board making him only the third New Zealander to sit on the IB and the first of Polynesian descent.
Its previous EDs such as Meg de Ronde and Shaun Greaves have moved on to CEO roles in larger charities.
Its current campaigns are to end human rights abuses in Israel and Gaza, Syria, Egypt and Central African Republic.
When individuals suffer grave human rights abuses, Amnesty International New Zealand takes action for their support.
Recent successes include the release of Meriam Ibrahim, condemned to death in Sudan for apostasy; Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer; and a reduced sentence for Dr Tun Tun Hein, an imprisoned community leader in Myanmar.
Amnesty International didn't take a position on whether Ahmed Zaoui is guilty of the charges laid against him, but argued that he had not received fair criminal trials in Algeria, Belgium, or France, and that Switzerland's rejection of his refugee claim and subsequent deportation to Burkina Faso was improper.
Amnesty International strongly supports the creation of a United Nations treaty to control small arms.
Minister for Disarmament Phil Goff declared New Zealand's strong support for such a treaty after receiving the petition.
The Darfur conflict in Sudan is one of Amnesty International's top priorities, as a result of the large-scale human rights abuses occurring.
AIANZ has called for the introduction of a United Nations peacekeeping force to prevent conflict and stop further unnecessary suffering.