Rise in Anti-Indian Racism in New Zealand Sparks Concern

Indian communities in New Zealand report a significant increase in racist incidents, prompting calls for government action.

A Series of Troubling Incidents

Graffiti targeting Indians has appeared in Auckland public spaces, while New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones used the phrase "butter chicken tsunami" in opposition to a free trade agreement with India.

In a separate incident, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown called an Indian RNZ staff member a "Muslim terrorist" — though he later apologized.

A haka performance directed at ACT Party MP Parmjeet Parmar included derogatory references to Indian culture.

"The Indian community is being hounded from all ends."
— Shaneel Lal, former Young New Zealander of the Year

Lal noted that while criticism of Parmar's policies is valid, the haka escalated to attacking her identity rather than engaging with her ideas.

Historical Context

Anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand is not new. It dates back to the early 1900s and the establishment of the "White New Zealand League" in 1926.

Indian migration to New Zealand began in the 1890s; the 2023 census recorded over 292,000 Indian residents.

International Concern

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed concern about racist hate speech by New Zealand politicians and public figures.

Community Voices

Anti-racism advocate Tina Ngata observed that race is often weaponized during election years, and that both Indian and Māori communities are harmed by racism.

Mohan Dutta of Massey University attributed anti-Indian and anti-Māori racism to white supremacy, linking the two forms of discrimination as products of the same underlying system.

A Path Toward Resolution

Che Wilson apologized for the controversial haka, and a Māori harm resolution process known as Hohou te Rongo is now underway.

The Council of Sikh Affairs confirmed both the apology and the ongoing resolution process, signaling a potential step toward healing.