Summarised by Centrist
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow is facing calls to resign after allegedly making Islamophobic comments during a February meeting with Jewish community leader Philippa Yasbek.
According to Yasbek, Rainbow claimed Muslims posed a greater threat to New Zealand’s Jewish community than white supremacists—directly contradicting the NZSIS 2024 threat assessment, which identifies white identity-motivated violent extremism as the country’s dominant threat.
The claim triggered outrage from groups including Alternative Jewish Voices, Dayenu: Jews Against Occupation, and the Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ (FIANZ), who accused Rainbow of misusing his position and sabotaging efforts toward social cohesion. NZSIS Director-General Andrew Hampton later confirmed Rainbow had misrepresented the agency’s findings.
Rainbow initially thanked Yasbek for her feedback and, after rereading the report, issued an apology: “I have read the statement by FIANZ and wholeheartedly publicly apologise to our Muslim communities.” Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he would not request Rainbow’s resignation but urged him to “be more careful” in future.
