Vandalism at Auckland tech firm shows escalation of imported Gaza activism
An Auckland technology company has become the latest target of anti-Israel activism in New Zealand, after a break-in and vandalism at its Mt Wellington offices was claimed as a protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The incident occurred late last week at the offices of Rakon, a New Zealand-owned firm that designs crystal oscillators used in global telecommunications, space, positioning, and defence industries.
Police confirmed that a 20-year-old has been arrested and charged with burglary, and is due to appear in court on Wednesday.
A person claiming responsibility for the attack also posted online, sharing photos of the damage and declaring the purpose was to “cause financial damage to Rakon and disrupt its operational capacity.” They alleged, without evidence, that Rakon components were used in U.S. smart bombs deployed by Israel against civilians in Gaza.
The same statement demanded that the New Zealand Government impose sanctions on Israel and on companies “supplying it the means to continue its campaign.”
Rakon strongly rejected the claims, pointing to a May 2024 statement published on its website:
“Rakon does not design or manufacture weapons. We do not supply products to Israel for weapons, and we are not aware of our products being incorporated into weapons which are provided to Israel.”
The company emphasised that crystal oscillators are “common electronic components used in a wide range of industries,” and noted its compliance with all New Zealand regulations, including strict prohibitions against sales for weapons of mass destruction, cluster munitions, or terrorist activity.
A Rakon spokesperson said the company is assisting police with the investigation but declined further comment as the matter is before the courts.
Imported Extremism
This marks one of the most serious escalations of anti-Israel activism in New Zealand since October 7. What began as street marches and campus protests has now moved into criminal acts of sabotage targeting New Zealand businesses accused (falsely) of links to Israel.
Observers warn that the spread of misinformation about Israel and Gaza is fuelling radicalisation, encouraging individuals to justify criminal acts as “resistance.” The perpetrator told Stuff that such actions were “inevitable if peaceful protests were unsuccessful.”
The incident underscores the danger of imported narratives portraying Israel’s defensive war as a genocidal campaign, and of activists applying those narratives to local contexts where no connection exists.
While New Zealand’s Jewish community has long raised concerns about the hostile climate created by anti-Israel rhetoric, the Rakon case demonstrates how quickly rhetoric can tip into direct action and violence against local institutions.
