[4] Bilateral relations between the two countries have been complicated by issues such as the 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

To demonstrate New Zealand's policy of "even-handedness" towards Israel and Arab states, Rowling accepted credentials from both the Israeli and Egyptian Embassies on the same day.

The Israeli embassy in Wellington closed in October 2002 due to financial reasons, but reopened in 2010 with Shemi Tzur appointed as the Ambassador to New Zealand.

They denied belonging to the Mossad, but received a six-month sentence for trying to enter the country illegally and working with organised criminal gangs.

[18] On June 26, 2005 Foreign Minister Shalom sent a letter of apology to the New Zealand government,[19] and said that Israel would take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Amos Nadav, the Israeli Foreign Minister's deputy director for Asia and the Pacific said "We are happy the crisis is behind us and look ahead to the future.

[26] On June 14, 2017, the NZ Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed that full bilateral relations had been restored following discreet high-level contacts between the Israeli and New Zealand governments.

[7][31] While it regularly votes for pro-Palestinian measures at the UN, New Zealand is yet to formally challenge only Israel when tensions erupt into significant violence, as with the May 2021 hostilities.

[33] In response to the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis that broke out in May 2021, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta called on Israel to "cease demolitions and evictions" and for "both sides to halt steps which undermine prospects for a two state solution".

[34][35] Mahuta's statements were echoed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who condemned "indiscriminate rocket fire" from Hamas and "what looks to be a response that has gone well beyond self-defence on both sides."

"[36] In mid-May, Prime Minister Ardern also sought an assurance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that a shipment of firearms suppressors being sent to an Israeli firm for evaluation purposes was not being used in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.

[37] On 19 May, the Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman sponsored a motion calling for Members of Parliament to recognise the right of Palestinians to self-determination and statehood.

[38] In response to criticism by ACT Party deputy leader Brooke Van Velden, Ghahraman also defended fellow Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March's tweet that said "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!."

[42] Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed that New Zealand unequivocally condemned Hamas' terror attacks, stating that the target of civilians and hostage taking violated fundamental international humanitarian principles.

[43] On 17 October, the Government contributed NZ$5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) and the United Nations' World Food Programme's humanitarian relief efforts.

The government's motion also incorporated an amendment by Labour MP Phil Twyford calling for the establishment of a State of Palestine in accordance with a two-state solution.

In addition, New Zealand issued travel bans targeting several extremist Israeli settlers who had committed violent acts against Palestinians in the West Bank.

"[51] In late January 2024, The Times of Israel reported that Immigration New Zealand was requiring Israelis applying for visitor visa to complete detailed questionnaires about their military service, association with intelligence services or law enforcement organisations, and involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity and human rights abuses.

They also said that visas had been denied on other grounds such as providing proof of their ties to their home countries, reasons for their stay or evidence of travel plans.

[54] In response to a Haaretz report, United States Senator Ted Cruz accused New Zealand of discriminating against Israeli citizens in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

[56] A search and rescue team funded by the families of 2 other Israelis missing in the quake was turned away by recovery officials due to the lack of UN accreditation.

[56] New Zealand security officials suspected Mizrahi and his companions were Mossad agents attempting to infiltrate the state's computer databases to gain sensitive information.