By BRONWYN SELL
The Waikato Jewish community is angry that Waikato University has called off a meeting over an alleged neo-Nazi allowed to study towards a doctorate there.
Hans-Joachim Kupka last week withdrew from his studies after an uproar by students and local Jewish people about racist internet statements attributed to him,
in which he denied the Holocaust occurred.
Mr Kupka's doctorate thesis, on the German language, would have involved his interviewing Jewish people.
A university spokesman said yesterday that the university believed the issue had been settled by Mr Kupka's withdrawal and that it was clear the situation had been handled properly.
However, Jewish staff members want an inquiry, and are insulted that the university cancelled a meeting with them scheduled for this week.
Waikato Jewish Association spokeswoman Dr Sarah Shieff said Mr Kupka's absence made no difference to the university's handling of the case.
"The vice-chancellor appears to believe that now Kupka is gone the issue is closed.
"The issue will not be closed until the university addresses its responsibilities to its Jewish staff, the Jewish community at large and those from the university who have also been outraged by the university's handling of this situation."
The Race Relations Conciliator, Dr Rajen Prasad, initially told the university that he would not take action.
However, he subsequently wrote to it suggesting that an independent inquiry examine the conditions under which Mr Kupka was admitted to the programme.
The letter was written before the university announced Mr Kupka had withdrawn, and Dr Prasad was unable to be contacted yesterday to confirm whether he was still concerned.
