Bert Brauer, Christchurch

NZ National Party leader Don Brash's speech attacking Maori rights just before Waitangi Day (February 6) ignited a racist backlash. Racially motivated verbal and physical attacks, especially on Asian immigrants, have increased massively since.

On May 8, the Asian community fought back with a 1200-strong “No to racism” rally in Christchurch that made front-page headlines and TV coverage. “Labour Independent” Mayor Garry Moore responded by denying the existence of widespread racism in “his” city. He sucessfully lobbied march organisers Lincoln Tan and Hok Beng Lee to adopt an additional, “positive” slogan: “Yes to harmony.” But still described the organisers as “extremists”.

The real extremists, the National Front, tried to stage a counter-demonstration, but only mobilised 15 people. Despite this, the organisation received half of the media attention, and boasted that the incident had won them more recruits.

From Green Left Weekly, May 19, 2004.
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