Fred Albert is a veteran educator, environmental leader, and community activist based in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is a founding member of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation and a significant figure in New Zealand’s green politics and ecological conservation.
Albert’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to the public good, spanning three core areas:
- Education: With over 35 years in the sector, he specialized in ESOL, helping refugees and migrants find their footing in New Zealand. To him, teaching was a tool for empowerment and cross-cultural bridging.
- Environmentalism: A prominent leader within Forest & Bird, he served as Chair of the Lower Hutt branch, spearheading biodiversity restoration and advocating for ecological integrity.
- Governance: His service on the Petone Community Board and his active role in the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand highlight his belief that social equity and ecological sustainability are inseparable.
As one of the co-founders of Dayenu, he is dedicated to carving out space within the Jewish community to discuss the issue of the Occupation. He firmly opposes conflating Jewish identity with Israel’s military actions, arguing that true Jewish values should be manifested in a respect for the right to self-determination of all peoples. Drawing upon his background in environmentalism, he incisively highlights the destructive impact of occupation policies on Palestinian land, water resources, and agriculture—particularly olive groves. He views environmental degradation as a form of oppression and calls upon the global environmental movement to address the ecological catastrophe wrought by military occupation.
From 2023, Fred was a leading figure in New Zealand’s campaign urging the government to impose sanctions on Israel for its violations of international law. He delivered numerous speeches on the Parliament lawns in Wellington, emphasizing that, as a Jew, he bears a heightened moral obligation to stand up and speak out against violence directed at civilians.