The rising scourge

Thew Jewish Council does an annual report of antisemitic incidents in NZ. The latest 2025 report records the following:

• 143 anti-semitic incidents (almost three a week) – a record high
• 5 assaults
• 15 desecrations

Before 2023, there was an average of 20 incidents a year, so the level is now seven times as high.

Less than 20% of the incidents took place outside the three main cities. Wellington and Christchurch have the highest levels relative to population.

The five assaults were:

• A Jewish child was assaulted by a teacher at a kindergarten in Hamilton.

• A man attacked a woman who was participating in a vigil for hostages in Christchurch

• A man punched an Israeli tourist in Christchurch and called him a “baby killer”.

• A woman was assaulted in Auckland by a man who tried to take her Israeli flag.

• Two men pushed Israel supporters and ripped Israeli flags out of their hands in Mount Maunganui. They shouted “Heil Hilter” and “we’ll kill you”.

Charming.

The probability that someone jewish is a victim of a hate crime is:

• 1.7 times more likely than a Middle Eastern Kiwi;

• 3.2 times more likely than a South Asian Kiwi;

• 5.0 times more likely than an Asian Kiwi;

• 18 times more likely than a Māori; and

• 160 times more likely than a European New Zealander.

So far in NZ anti-semitism has not been lethal, but in Europe, US and Australia the number of Jews killed in anti-semitic attacks has been 59 since 2014.

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