Rally celebrates ethnic diversity, condemns racism

4.00pm

Diversity and difference are an invitation to explore and understand, rather than being a threat, former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves told an anti-racism rally today.

About 300 people attended the rally and a subsequent forum, organised by writer James McNeish following recent attacks on Jewish graves at two Wellington cemeteries.

Sir Paul said the attacks on Jewish graves were "familiar and unwelcome signs of a bigotry and a racism we don't need".

"They are the actions of those who, if they could, would purge and cleanse society and assert their own dominance. This is a form of terrorism."

New Zealanders assumed they were tolerant, fair-minded and judged people on their merits.

However, lurking just below the surface was anxiety and even anger about the growing multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious nature of New Zealand, Sir Paul told an audience outside Parliament.

Driving that was a fear of losing power in our own country.

"Once we could deal with the world on our own terms but that is changing.

"The people we trade with now want to come and live with us. In some ways the stranger in our midst is less welcome than they were."

Sir Paul concluded with a message for the Jewish community, saying that through their culture, cohesion and skills they had enriched the life and texture of New Zealand.

Dunedin Mayor Sukhi Turner said her success in being elected three times was considered extraordinary by some, given that she was young, female and an Indian.

Such support debunked three times over the urban myth that Dunedin and southern New Zealand were "inherently conservative, backward and uniformly bland".

Most New Zealanders had an inherent sense of fairness and goodwill towards others and knew that the hatred, intolerance and ill-will which had recently "bubbled to the surface" was not on.

"We are gathered here today to smother this negativity created by people who feed on the darker side of human nature. It is imperative that all decent people make a stand and rally against this destructive force," Ms Turner said.

"The time has come for all good and great people to make a stand. We will not be bystanders."

Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter said the gathering represented what New Zealand should be about; support for a diverse and multi-ethnic society.

It was a stark contrast to yesterday's gathering at Parliament, where black-clothed Destiny Church members opposing the Civil Union Bill chanted "enough is enough", often raising their right hands. Their actions led to their detractors comparing them to fascists.

"I welcome today's stand for racial harmony," Mr Carter said.

"We live in a society that does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and it's excellent to see support coming from some very prominent New Zealanders."

Mr Carter presented Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence with about 60 letters of support from members of the public.

- NZPA