‘They are us’ loses its lustre

Opinion: A claim recently hit headlines that Wellington City Council wanted the capital’s six mosques to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer across town. The claim was included in a pamphlet produced by lobby group Better Wellington and came to light after the city’s posties refused to deliver the pamphlet, dubbing it an example of Islamophobia.
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) called it “malicious information”, pointing out the local Islamic Association had simply approached the council about broadcasting the call to prayer on March 15 to remember the 51 lives lost in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.
Publicity about the pamphlet may well have left many members of the Muslim community asking what has become of the unifying ‘you are us’ message that was so prominent in the days after March 15.
The same question was likely being asked after the Government’s recent announcement it was ending the coordinated response to the 2019 Christchurch terror attack. This decision does not bode well for the Muslim community, particularly for the victims of the attack and affected families. It also has profound implications for broader social cohesion and national safety and security.
The decision means the final eight recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the attack won’t be progressed. These include recommendations to establish a national intelligence and security agency, an advisory group on counter-terrorism, and a reporting system so the public can easily and safely report incidents of concern.
Lead coordination minister Judith Collins says, “any remaining work will be embedded into what government agencies do every day”. But they will be doing it with less money. Funding cuts have seen a $7 million drop in spending on the “system response” to the Royal Commission. In addition, the Ministry of Ethnic Communities has had a $2 million budget cut and the Ministry of Justice has announced support from the coronial inquiry victims’ assistance scheme will be reduced.
These developments have sent shockwaves through the Muslim community. The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand made the point that only two of the Royal Commission’s 44 recommendations specifically affected Muslims and the Government’s decision means work on these is “cancelled”.
The two recommendations were related to developing restorative justice processes and a wrap-around support service for affected whānau, survivors, and witnesses of the March 15 attack.
In a statement to the Muslim community and members of Parliament, FIANZ called the decision to end coordinated services for survivors “shameful abandonment”, adding “survivors with bullet shrapnel still in their bodies are being warned that if they don’t start the process of job seeking and assessment, they will lose their ACC compensation”.
FIANZ leaders have also noted there was no consultation with the Muslim community before the decision to end the coordinated response and have criticised the Government for “undoing three years of consultation and international best practice in the prevention of violent extremism and terrorism”. They argue New Zealand will be more exposed to “further copycat acts of terror” as a result.
Leaders of the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand have echoed these concerns. Disappointment at the Government’s decision has also been expressed by Kāpuia, a ministerial advisory group established to provide the Government with independent advice on making New Zealand a safer and more inclusive country. Some of Kāpuia’s own suggestions were not taken up by the Government either. The group, which mainly consisted of Muslim leaders, has now been disbanded.
The abrupt decision to end the coordinated response to March 15 has clearly undermined trust and a sense of belonging, recognition, and inclusion – the building blocks of social cohesion – among the Muslim community. Given the global rise of far-right parties and white supremacism, it is concerning the Muslim community feels less safe and supported.
The decision comes at a time when the number of hate incidents reported to New Zealand Police is rising, up 12 percent between 2022 and 2023. Race-motivated abuse comprised 83 percent of complaints, followed by incidents targeting people’s sexual orientation and faith.
Concerns about the safety and security of everyone in New Zealand have also been raised by the Government’s separate announcement it is overhauling firearms laws, which could see the reintroduction of the military-style semi-automatic weapons used in the March 15 attack.
It is clear these decisions are not only damaging the relationship with the Muslim community but also endangering the security of all New Zealanders regardless of religion or ethnicity.