Debbie Jamieson14:44, Jul 05 2021
Debbie Jamieson/Stuff
Queenstown police are investigating the graffiti of the Islamic Centre two weeks after it opening in 2020.
A former Queenstown high school student who hung 250 racist posters around Queenstown has avoided a criminal record after being given police diversion and permanent name suppression. The 19-year-old posted the bills on poles, bus shelters and walls between December 2019 and December 2020.
The New Zealand Government had been urged to improve hate speech laws for many years, by independent bodies like the United Nations and Human Rights Commission, Narayanan said. “These are changes that the government has already publicly committed to, and they have no excuse not to act on it.” Narayanan said acts of hate speech targeted vulnerable communities and MNZ s regional branches had been asked to act as a support network in the wake of the events. “Incidents like this are particularly hard on migrant communities, often enhancing feelings and behaviours of isolation” Narayanan said. He also called on Kiwis and migrants alike to report hate crime to the police.
He said an example needed to be made of people who committed such acts. We are very supportive of separate hate crime legislation and we hope the government puts that through quickly in the new year, he said. We are pleased police are collecting hate crime data now as well so that will strengthen the punishments for the people that continue to spread messages of hate.
He said racism was deliberate. There is an inherent hatred among people that are racist and I think it s a disease, that it can be brought out of people. However, some people are entrenched in their hatred and it s difficult to curb their behavior.
Racism is well and alive in New Zealand - Race Relations Commissioner Racism is well and alive in New Zealand - Race Relations Commissioner Wednesday, December 23, 2020 RNZ
The Race Relations Commissioner has condemned two recent attacks targeting a mosque and a kura, saying they show how racism is well and alive in New Zealand.
The Queenstown Islamic Centre, which opened earlier this month, had anti-Muslim posters plastered over it this week, and Maori immersion school Te Wharekura o Arowhenua in Invercargill had a racist slur painted on its welcome sign this week.
Police are investigating both incidents and said all reports of hate speech are taken very seriously.
Anti-Islamic posters: Arrest made in relation to Queenstown hate attack
23 Dec, 2020 10:23 PM
2 minutes to read
Queenstown Islamic Centre and the Gorge Rd Retail Centre car park were targeted with offensive anti-Islamic posters. Photo / Otago Daily Times
NZ Herald
An arrest has been made in connection to anti-Islamic posters being plastered around Queenstown.
Southern District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham said they made an arrest in connection to the posters, which were put up around the Islamic Centre on Gorge Rd.
An 18-year-old man has appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Thursday charged with possession of a knife.
Police expect to lay further charges in due course.