NZ antisemitic incidents increase 15 times fold
More than a year on from the Hamas pogrom of October 7, 2023, the New Zealand Jewish community has been exposed to a marked increase in antisemitic incidents.
Juliet Moses
A report authored by the New Zealand Jewish Council (“Antisemitism in New Zealand: 7 October 2023 to 7 October 2024”) details the unprecedented number of antisemitic incidents 15 times more than normal and compares them to all incidents recorded in the 8.5 years prior (1 January 2014 to 1 July 2022).
It is expected to see an uptick in antisemitism in New Zealand whenever geopolitical incidents involving the State of Israel occur, mainly from far-left and Islamist-motivated individuals.
According to the New Zealand Police, New Zealand Jews are disproportionately targeted (when compared to other ethnic groups). With Jews comprising only 0.2% of the population of New Zealand: 13% of all reported hate crimes in the Auckland region were against Jews; 10% of all reported hate crimes in the Wellington region were against Jews; and 10% of all reported hate crimes in the Tasman region were against Jews.
Since October 7, 2023, however, the number and severity of reported antisemitic incidents in New Zealand have risen to unprecedented levels. There have been 11.6 times more incidents in the year following October 7 than in the 8.5 preceding years. But it doesn’t stop there – a higher proportion of the reported incidents constituted threats and assaults, with an alarming 2 (of the 5 reported assaults) occurring at NZ schools.
This extraordinary increase in threats has manifested against both individual Jewish New Zealanders, and Jewish institutions. Individuals have received a significant increase in death threats and threatening messages (both on personal phones and at private residences). There were 20 reports of wilful damage to Jewish facilities, including two acts of arson and antisemitic vandalism. One Jewish business was targeted with lit Molotov cocktails, vandalism, an attempted break-in and an attempt to set off a truck fuel tank IED.
Equally concerning is the New Zealand governments continued support and funding for UNRWA, which not only teaches antisemitism in its schools, but also employs Hamas terrorists.
The lack of condemnation of antisemitic behaviour in New Zealand, from leaders at all levels in New Zealand, is very disappointing. Even more so when compared to the messaging from leaders of other, friendly Western nations.
Juliet Moses, president of the NZJC, told J-Wire, “We are very disturbed by the rapid escalation in antisemitic incidents – including physical attacks on people and property, targeting of businesses and livelihoods, and bullying and intimidation of schoolchildren that has occurred since October 7. We are also concerned by the silence, inaction and double standards of relevant leaders and authorities and continue to hope they will take a strong stand against antisemitism to ensure that New Zealand remains a country that Jews can safely and proudly thrive in and contribute to.”
The New Zealand government has finally proscribed the entirety of Hamas as a terror organisation, removing the ridiculous distinction between the political and military wings.
