Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby says anti-migrant rhetoric is “unhelpful” as tensions around the issue grow in other parts of the world.
In her first Q+A interview since being appointed, Derby said public leaders had a duty to think about how they speak and the impact on social cohesion.
She said global tensions, seen in the UK and Europe, were of “great concern” to communities and ethnic groups in New Zealand.
“A lot of communities are fearful. They’re worried. They’re scared about what this means,” she said. “We have others saying, ‘Look, what is the changing face of New Zealand, ‘we’re one of the most diverse countries in the world — what does this mean for me?’
“At the moment, my estimation is that a lot of these issues are playing out in the extremes. How do we strengthen the middle ground in this country? How do we come together, like I said, to have constructive conversations to address some of these issues?”
Asked if there were political leaders in New Zealand contributing to division, she said: “It’s hard for me to pinpoint one thing in particular, but it’s certainly unhelpful when you have anti-migrant rhetoric coming from leaders, who people look to.
“I think that we can demand better of some of our leaders in that space to ensure that they’re not contributing to some of these issues, while at the same time, obviously, doing their role as politicians.”
Derby said a recent SIS report showed increases in online radicalisation, with young and isolated people particularly vulnerable. She said social media amplifies extremist content, allowing people to find grievance narratives and polarising issues.
“No one ideology or one group stands out as posing a greater threat than any other, but it’s something that we’ve got to be concerned about.”
Derby was a senior lecturer at Waikato University before her appointment last year.
In her Q+A interview, she was also asked about her previous statements about systemic racism, legal protections for ethnic and rainbow communities, affirmative action programmes, and the role of Te Tiriti following the divisive Treaty Principles Bill process.
For the full interview, watch the video above
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
