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Police are investigating after racist graffiti was sprayed on a sign in Te Whare O Arowhenua kura, and on a residential fence, in Invercargill.
“This is what hate looks like.”
The Maori Languages Commission has asked New Zealanders to support a Maori language immersion school run by racists this week.
And an Invercargill city councilwoman says she’s embarrassed after hate speech was sprayed on a sign outside a kura in the city.
Police are investigating the incident at Te Whare O Arowhenua school in Invercargill.
The graffiti had been painted on Wednesday morning.
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A police spokesman said a complaint had been received about the incident.
Police were also aware of another incident at a residential address in Invercargill and are making inquiries.
In that incident, racist language was spray painted on a fence.
Rawinia Higgins, a teacher at the Maori language commissioner, said in a statement: “This is what hate looks like. It is not abroad, it is right here in our communities and it is aimed at our children, our language and our identity.
“We know that more than a million people were with us to celebrate the Maori language in September and we ask people to show their support for the children and families of this kura.”
In a post on social media, Councilor Alex Crackett said: “ Something disgusting happened to our precious kura overnight that made me absolutely hoha.
“I will not repeat or publish it except to say that it was a despicable act of blatant racism and that I am ashamed as a community representative to see this happen in Waihōpai, Invercargill. This is not what we are.
Kavinda Herath / Things
Invercargill City Councilman Alex Crackett says she’s embarrassed after racist graffiti appeared on a sign on an Invercargill kura.
“But, it has provided me with a poignant reminder of how important korero te reo Māori is in my day-to-day life, and to always ask a pātai of decision makers: Are we doing everything we can to normalize that Maori are not a color, it’s our culture, ” Crackett said.
The police said someone Whoever can know who is responsible, should contact the police through 105.
The incident follows another in Queenstown, where posters with images of the Prophet Muhammad were found taped to a mosque Monday night.
