Torah among sacred texts set for destruction by NZ National Library

The New Zealand National Library is under fire after it was revealed that more than 500,000 books — including religious texts such as the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran — are marked for destruction as part of a controversial cost-saving initiative.

The books, part of the Library’s overseas-published collection, are being shredded and recycled in a move the Government claims will save $1 million annually in storage. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden defended the plan, calling it “beneficial to the taxpayer” and noting that many of the religious texts are “readily available.”

But Jewish, Christian, and Muslim groups have expressed alarm. A spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council said the destruction of Jewish learning texts is deeply offensive and that there had been insufficient consultation with religious leaders. They called for books to be preserved or donated to congregations instead.

The titles slated for destruction — released under the Official Information Act — include books on Judaism’s history, values, and practices.

While the Library insists it retains a “significant collection” of religious texts, the method and scope of the disposal have drawn criticism. In Judaism, even printed texts containing the name of God must be disposed of with reverence, often through burial — not shredded in bulk.

This decision comes at a time of heightened concern about respect for religious minorities in New Zealand. That sacred Jewish texts could be so casually destroyed by a government institution is a disturbing precedent — one that has shocked many in the Jewish community on both sides of the Tasman.

Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, president of the Rabbinical Association of Australasia, told J-Wire: “In Jewish tradition, any text containing the name of God is considered sacred and must be treated with the utmost dignity, often requiring burial, not destruction through mechanical shredding.

We acknowledge the financial pressures faced by public institutions, but cost-cutting must never come at the expense of cultural and religious respect.

We call upon the New Zealand Government and the leadership of the National Library to engage in genuine consultation with religious leaders and scholars. There are dignified and respectful alternatives — including donation, or religiously appropriate preservation — that honour the spiritual and historical significance of these works.

At a time when religious minorities already feel vulnerable, this act sends a painful and unnecessary message. We urge New Zealand’s institutions to reflect on the implications of this decision and to take action that affirms the values of respect, inclusion, and interfaith understanding.”

Mark Crookston, Director Digital, Archives National Library, told J-Wire: “The National Library of New Zealand published lists of the out-of-date and unused items it proposed to remove from its overseas public lending collection at various stages of the engagement with interested parties over the last six years. This process also included offering copies to other libraries in New Zealand and overseas.

About 48,000 items were rehomed in this way.

Now that the process has closed, we are not in a position to provide specific examples of actual texts around subject areas being disposed of.

The National Library continues to hold an internationally-significant collection of scripture and religious texts.  This week we have again made contact with some interest groups, including the NZ Jewish Council, about this matter.

We appreciate that book removal generates a high level of interest, and we thank all who engaged constructively with the National Library throughout the process. “

For more information please see: https://natlib.govt.nz/about-us/strategy-and-policy/collections-policy/overseas-published-collection-management

 

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