Media release: NZ Jewish Council & Holocaust Centre of NZ…
The New Zealand Jewish Council and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand are calling on the New Zealand Government to urgently develop and implement a comprehensive national strategy to combat antisemitism, following the bold and principled leadership demonstrated by the Australian Government today.
Australia’s plan, announced by Prime Minister Albanese, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke, and Special Envoy on Antisemitism Jillian Segal, introduces strong, decisive measures aimed at tackling anti-Jewish hate across multiple sectors of society. Notably, institutions such as universities and arts organisations will face the loss of government funding if they fail to address antisemitism within their ranks. Standards are being introduced across education, public service, cultural sectors and media, reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to hate and discrimination.
In contrast, New Zealand has remained largely silent in the face of a marked and disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly in our universities. Over recent months, Jewish students and academics in Aotearoa have reported a growing climate of hostility and fear, from intimidation and exclusion to open displays of antisemitic rhetoric. We have reached a point where many no longer feel safe expressing their identity on campus.
Much of this rhetoric is disguised as concern for the human rights of Palestinians or concern about Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, both positions which the Jewish Council and Holocaust Centre have repeatedly said do not constitute antisemitism.
However, explicitly or tacitly endorsing violence or discrimination against Jews, including the vast majority of Jews who believe that Jewish people have the right of self-determination, is antisemitic. Jews who believe in Israel’s right to exist, regardless of their position on the current war or actions of the Israeli Government, face discrimination.
“This is not theoretical,” said Ben Kepes, spokesperson for the NZ Jewish Council. “It is Jew-hate. We are hearing from young Jewish New Zealanders who avoid wearing visible symbols of their faith, who choose to remain silent in classroom discussions, and who fear for their safety. We have Holocaust survivors being retraumatised by vile slurs reappearing in public spaces. This is a crisis.”
“Antisemitism in schools is reaching epidemic proportions,” said Deborah Hart, Chair of the Holocaust Centre of NZ. “Our children are fearful and feeling victimised with troubling frequency.”
The Council and Centre support the adoption of a clear and consistent policy against antisemitism across all public institutions and call for funding mechanisms to be reviewed in line with a zero-tolerance policy toward hate. Institutions that enable or ignore antisemitic conduct should not continue to receive public support.
Antisemitism has moved from the fringes to the mainstream in many Western democracies. New Zealand is not immune. What happens next will determine whether Jewish Kiwis, students, teachers, professionals, artists, and community members continue to feel they have a place in the Aotearoa we all call home.
The Australian Government has recognised the danger and acted. We urge our leaders to do the same.
