Yesterday, 1 News reported:
Documents obtained by 1News show the Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow raised concerns that rising Muslim immigration to New Zealand poses a threat to our Jewish communities.
…
But Rainbow also rejected several claims made by Yasbek — denying that he described Muslims as the biggest threat to the Jewish community and that he had called the Afghan community in West Auckland anti-Semitic.
But since then, 1News has obtained notes that officials took during the meeting.
They show that "Stephen [Rainbow] raised increase in Muslim immigration as threat to Jewish community".
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Rainbow refused to be interviewed by 1News about his views on Muslim immigration but, in a statement, the Human Rights Commission said "he has apologised for statements made during the meeting in question. He stands by the apology and regrets the harm caused."
Rainbow’s untruthful and bigoted comments aren’t just ignorant…they’re dangerous. Painting an entire religious group in New Zealand as a threat isn’t just lazy stereotyping; it’s a dog whistle for inciting hatred. History shows us where this leads: division, fear, and violence. The Christchurch massacre wasn’t a random act...it was fuelled by the kind of dangerous rhetoric Rainbow, who was unduly appointed by non-other than National MP Paul Goldsmith, has sunk his career with. His words give tacit permission to those itching to demonise Muslims, emboldening them with hatred to do unspeakable acts of violence. When a figure of his stature normalises Islamophobia and incorrectly uses NZSIS data, it’s not just a slip of the tongue; it’s a spark in a tinderbox.
And let’s not forget the context. New Zealand’s Muslim community is still trying to heal itself from the trauma of 2019, where families were torn apart in a place of worship. To have a Human Rights Commissioner…someone meant to protect the vulnerable…throw salt in those wounds is beyond disgraceful. It’s a betrayal of everything his role stands for. Clearly we need better decision makers in public office to ensure racists like Rainbow don’t attain positions of power.
And where is the condemnation from our so-called leaders. Of course you’d expect people like David Seymour to agree with Rainbows Islamophobia. The ACT Party leader is no stranger to reckless rhetoric himself. Back in 2023, he “joked” about blowing up the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, doubling down even after it incited real-world harassment. Seymour’s cavalier attitude toward inflammatory speech mirrors Rainbow’s. Both treat words like they’re harmless, ignoring how they can ignite hatred and cause people to die.
Rainbow’s racism isn’t just a personal failing; it’s a symptom of a broader malaise. His comments risk normalising hate at a time when we can least afford it. The mosque shootings taught us that words have consequences. Lives were lost because of unchecked bigotry that was allowed to run rampant. The type of poison Rainbow expresses and believes in threatens to undo years of work to rebuild trust and unity within our communities. He must go, and we must demand better from our public officials.
