Human Rights Commission
Media statement
10 August 2004

Parliamentary Resolution on the Desecration of Makara Cemetery

The following is a statement from community leaders about the desecration of Jewish graves in Wellington, as tabled in Parliament this afternoon by the Acting Prime Minister, Hon Dr Michael Cullen, with the leave of the House, following Parliament's own unanimous resolution on the subject. This includes further signatures to those issued in the Commission's media release yesterday.

10 August 2004

Hon Michael Cullen
Acting Prime Minister
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Dear Dr Cullen

PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION ON THE DESECRATION OF MAKARA CEMETERY

Please find enclosed a statement from a wide range of community leaders in support of the resolution to be tabled with the consent of all political parties in Parliament today. I would be grateful if you could table it in the House, as an indication of the support that all New Zealand communities, Pakeha, Maori, Pacific, Asian, African and Middle Eastern, to mention only some, wish to express both to Members of Parliament and to members of the Jewish community for the acts of anti-Semitic desecration that have taken place in Wellington. We are all affected by this, and we want to declare that such actions are an offence to New Zealanders of all cultures and backgrounds.

In the short time available to approach people to sign this statement, I have been overwhelmed by the eagerness of all those approached to add their voice of concern and sympathy. I am sure that their views are representative of the vast majority of New Zealanders. It is appropriate therefore that Parliament stands as one on this issue, and I appreciate the cross-party consensus that has led to this resolution being tabled.

Yours sincerely

Joris de Bres
Race Relations Commissioner
Kaihautu Whakawhanaunga à Iwi

To the Parliament of New Zealand

10 August, 2004

We, the undersigned, support all Members of Parliament in expressing, on behalf of New Zealanders of all cultures and backgrounds, their united condemnation of last week's attack on the Jewish cemetery in Makara and reaffirming New Zealand's commitment to the elimination of all forms of racial and religious discrimination.

The two recent attacks on Jewish cemeteries would appear to be the work of a very small group of individuals, but they have an enormous impact not only on Jewish New Zealanders but also on members of all minority groups, whatever their background, and the wider community.

Our communities welcome the intention of Members of Parliament to condemn these acts, to share in the distress of the Jewish community, to express our aroha to them, and to reaffirm our commitment to a nation that has a zero tolerance of racial and religious discrimination.

We call on the Police to make every effort to bring those responsible to justice, and appeal to anyone who has any information whatsoever about these crimes to contact the Police.

Joris de Bres, Race Relations Commissioner
Tumu Te Heu Heu, Paramount Chief, Ngati Tuwharetoa
Morrie Love, Executive Officer, Wellington Tenths Trust
Ross Wilson, President, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Pancha Narayanan, President, New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Councils
Hon Margaret Shields
Peter Tennent, Mayor of New Plymouth
Sir Paul Reeves
Garry Moore, Mayor of Christchurch
Dame Catherine Tizard
Meng Foon, Mayor of Gisborne
Ted van Arkel, Managing Director, Progressive Enterprises Ltd
Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere
Anita Mansell, Hutt Ethnic Council
Dame Georgina Kirby
Fa'amatuainu Tino Pereira, Deputy Chair, National Samoan Advisory Council
Melino Maka, Chair, Tongan Advisory Council
Simativa Perese, Chair, National Pacific Broadcasting Trust
John Wong, Chair, Auckland Regional Migrant Service Charitable Trust and
Chinese New Settlers Services Trust
Nuku Rapana, Auckland Cook Island leader and President, Pukapuka Community Trust
Pauline Winter, Chair, Pacific Business Trust
Mark Bell Booth, Mayor of Palmerston North
Andrew Little, National Secretary, Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Miriam Findlay, President, Ethnic Council of Manawatu
Su'a William Sio, Manukau City Councillor
Jim Mather, Chief Executive, Pacific Business Trust
Rev Leua Sio, Pacific community leader
Jenny Chalmers, Vice President, Auckland Inter-Faith Council
Jenny Brash, Mayor of Porirua
Mahad Warsame, President, Auckland Somali Association
Penny Sefuiva, Auckland City Councillor
Dr Bruce Hucker, Auckland City Councillor
Adrian Misquitta, President, Taranaki Multi-Ethnic Council
Alan Milne, Mayor of Kapiti
Brian Bellett, President, Southland Multi-Nations Council
Ropeti Gafa, Service Manager, Auckland
Ian Barker, President, Nelson Ethnic Council and Nelson City Councillor
Peter Glensor, Chairman, Hutt Valley District Health Board
Very Rev John Murray, Kapiti
Sandi Morrison QSM
Simona Nacua, President, Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council
Malia Hamani, TOA Pacific Inc, Auckland
Vijeshwar Prasad, President, Ethnic Council of Rangitikei/Wanganui
Sina Moore, Chief Executive, NiuFM Radio Network
Paul Cochrane, National Secretary, NZ Public Service Association
Michael Powles, Human Rights Commissioner
Wayne Guppy, Mayor of Upper Hutt
Wilson Irons, Chief Executive Officer, Anglican Trust for Women and Children
Peter Hosking, Director, Human Rights Foundation
Manu Sione, General Manager, Pacific Trust Canterbury
Karen Roberts, National Volunteer Coordinator, IHC New Zealand
Ashraf Anwar and Rev Bruce Keeley, Co-Presidents, Council of Christians and Muslims
Ashokbhai Darji, President, New Zealand Indian Central Association
Jennifer Janif and Mayada Sharif, UMMA Trust
Hasham Slaimankhel, Afghani Community
Adam Bedasso, Oromo community
Dr Judy McGregor, Equal Opportunities Commissioner
Koroseta Ko'o, Waitakere City Pacific Islands Advisory Council
Carol Nelson, Human Rights Network
Anjum Rahman, Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand
Camille Nakhid, Senior Lecturer, AUT
Desmond Abrahams, Auckland Regional Migrant Service and South African Community
Sue Elliott, Auckland
The Thompson whanau, Auckland
Sajjad Ali, Waikato University Muslim Club
Dharmasena Madugoda, President New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation
Javed Khan, President of Federation of Islamic Association of NZ
Ruth De Souza - Board member of ARMS
Saras Nair, Migrant Support Services
Joy Liddicoat, Human Rights Commissioner
Innes Logan, Spasifik Magazine
Anil Thapliyal, Chief Executive, Assured Directions
Cecil Lochan, Vice President, Auckland Regional Ethnic Council
Praveen Chandra, President, Waitakere Ethnic Board

Ends

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