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Brian Tamaki’s recent comments about Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims require more than a shrug.
In a video posted on social media, Tamaki called for New Zealand to be “purged” of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. He also talked about burning mosques and temples.
Those comments were wrong. They should be condemned.
New Zealand is a country where people are free to have strong views. People can criticise governments, political leaders, religious institutions and international events. People are free to disagree with the Indian Government, Narendra Modi, or any other government.
But there is a clear difference between criticising a government and targeting ordinary people in New Zealand because of their religion or ethnicity.
A Sikh business owner in Papatoetoe is not responsible for overseas religious conflict. A Muslim student in Mt Roskill should not be made to feel unsafe because of a debate about another country.
These are New Zealanders. They are our neighbours, workmates, customers, students, business owners and friends.
Many members of the Indian community came to New Zealand to build a better life. Some came decades ago. Some have arrived more recently. They have worked hard, paid taxes, started businesses, studied, raised families and contributed to this country.
The Indian community itself is not one single group. It includes Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, atheists and many others. It includes people from different religions, languages and backgrounds.
That diversity is part of Auckland’s strength.
So when a bishop uses language about “purging” whole religious communities, it is not harmless. It may be dismissed by some as just another extreme comment from someone who likes attention. But for the people targeted, it does not always feel that simple.
It can make parents worry about their children. It can make people who wear visible signs of faith feel more exposed in public. It can make communities feel as though they are being judged for who they are, rather than how they live and contribute.
New Zealand has learned painful lessons about where hatred aimed at religious communities can lead. We should not be casual about language that singles people out because of their faith.
This does not mean every offensive comment should become a legal matter. Police and the proper authorities can assess whether any legal threshold has been met. That is their role.
But the public standard should be clear regardless of the legal question.
It is not acceptable to call for religious communities to be removed from New Zealand. It is not acceptable to talk about burning places of worship. It is not acceptable to import overseas tensions and place the blame on innocent people living peacefully here.
Most New Zealanders understand this. Most people want to get on with their lives, work hard, raise their families and live peacefully with others.
That is what we see every day in Auckland. We see small businesses serving people from all backgrounds. We see children from different communities learning together. We see temples, gurdwaras, mosques, churches and community organisations working alongside each other.
That should not be taken for granted.
The answer to division is not more division. It is to be clear about the standards we expect in this country.
We can debate strongly. We can disagree openly. But we should not target whole communities because of their religion or ethnicity.To the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities who felt targeted by these comments, the message should be simple: you are part of New Zealand. Your contribution is valued. You belong here.
And to anyone using public platforms, there should be another simple message: words matter, and bishops should know better.
-Dr Parmjeet Parmar, ACT Party MP