The outgoing and incoming governments are blaming the caretaker convention for keeping tight-lipped about the situation in the Middle East.  

The convention applies when an outgoing administration is preparing to make way for an incoming one.  

International Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Kate Hawkesby that New Zealand's done the minimum: condemning the Hamas attack, calling for restraint from Israel's response, and funding humanitarian aid.  

He says beyond that, ministers have been reserved by design because of the caretaker convention.  

Miller says we're waiting for formation of a new government for a fuller response. 

LISTEN ABOVE