Politicians from opposing parties have presented a united front in Papatoetoe, standing with Auckland’s Indian community after two "deeply disturbing" and racist graffiti incidents left many residents feeling traumatised and fearful.
Labour MP for Ōtara-Panmure Jenny Salesa and ACT List MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar attended a community meeting at the Diversity Centre in Papatoetoe on Friday, 17 April, to offer their support. The meeting was organised in response to hateful messages discovered in Papatoetoe and Royal Oak.
The first incident involved graffiti with the words ‘Kill All Indians,’ which was found sprayed at the entrance of Papatoetoe Central School on Saturday, 11 April. The school has a large number of students of Indian origin. The second message was found in a public restroom in Royal Oak on Wednesday, 15 April.
A 61-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the Papatoetoe school graffiti and is facing charges of ‘offensive behaviour and wilful damage.’ However, police are still investigating the Royal Oak incident and believe the two events were not connected, a fact community leaders find worrying.
Calls for unity and calm
At the community meeting, organised by Kunal Bhalla and the Papatoetoe-Otara Action Team, both MPs condemned the attacks and appealed for solidarity. The event was supported by a coalition of community groups, including the Indian Association Manukau New Zealand, the New Zealand Indian Business Association, and the Sri Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara.
Ms Salesa described the graffiti as "deeply disturbing and shocking," and explained she initially refrained from commenting on social media to avoid heightening fear within the community she has represented for a long time.
Dr Parmar acknowledged the community’s fear and said the arrest provided some relief. However, she urged people to take the matter seriously, stressing that the intention behind such acts should not be underestimated.
Police warn against sharing images online
Counties Manukau Police West Area Commander Inspector Dave Christoffersen said that public safety is paramount and urged the public to report any such incidents directly to the police. He advised taking photographs for evidence but warned against circulating them on social media.
"Sharing images on social media can heighten fear, draw out further offending, and hinder investigations by alerting offenders that Police are aware," Inspector Christoffersen said. He recommended reporting incidents via 105 or at a police station.
Hate-based graffiti can be considered an aggravating factor in court under Section 91H of the Sentencing Act 2002, allowing for harsher penalties. The Inspector confirmed that police would maintain reassurance patrols near Papatoetoe Central School, which is also providing support to its students and families.
Rising anti-migrant sentiment a concern
The incidents have sparked a broader conversation about rising anti-migrant sentiment in New Zealand. Dr Parmar noted that such incidents must be viewed in the wider context, particularly during an election year, and that rhetoric from some aspiring to political office must be called out. This political climate has also been a feature of the recent Papatoetoe by-election, which has drawn a crowded field of candidates vying for local leadership, and similar debates around the role of elected officials are happening elsewhere, such as in Ontario bill proposes slashing school trustee roles, pay.
Ms Salesa referenced the 2023 Census, which showed the Indian population at 292,000, with projections it could reach 403,000 by June this year. She said hateful comments like ‘Go Back Home’ affect everyone with an immigrant background.
Hateful acts of this nature have the potential to fracture the entire Nation, especially as New Zealand becomes increasingly multicultural. If one community is targeted today, another could be targeted tomorrow.
Dr Parmar warned that such behaviour has the potential to fracture the entire nation and must be stopped immediately. "Visible action, rather than statements alone, helps restore confidence in the justice system," she said, adding that a swift and strong response is essential to prevent escalation. Further details on the initial police response can be found in our earlier coverage of the graffiti at Papatoetoe school.
Echoing the call for a collective response, Ms Salesa encouraged the community to respond with the same spirit of unity New Zealand demonstrated after the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019, assuring locals that she is "always available to support the community in any way needed."
