Racism in Christchurch

[Achoo]

I am a graduate student and have lived in Christchurch, New Zealand for the last 4 months. We often hear about how beautiful and environmentally aware Kiwis are. It is a pity that awareness does not transcend into the areas of multiculturalism and diversity.

In the first week I was in Christchurch, someone in the next car yelled out a racist insult pointing to my Chinese ancestry. Two weeks later, while at an ATM, a man yelled out the same racist comment. To date I have been here four months and have heard countless stories about racism. A fellow Malaysian student who wears a 'tudung' was also scorned and yelled at. She has only been in Christchurch for 3 weeks. Her friend who also dons a 'tudung' was spat on. A Chinese national student was punched in the face. And there are countless more. Other international students who are not so easily distinguished from the local Kiwis have not met with such incidences.

I am certain not all Kiwis are racist but it is unfortunate that the
racism I and other Asian students have encountered in the short time we have lived here makes us think they are a minority. As an undergraduate, I studied in the US and did not encounter any racism there. So this treatment from Kiwis is a real shocker. As Malaysians abroad who support their local economy (by spending good money to educate ourselves and our children) we deserve to be treated fairly. Racism and intolerance are unacceptable.

To be fair to New Zealand, I have not encountered any racism within the university. My graduate supervisor is very supportive (he is American though) and others within the university walls have been encouraging. I write this not to smear the good name of New Zealand but to spur others who believe in tolerance and diversity into action. To parents who are thinking about sending their children here for school or university and to individuals who are about to make the same decision, I hope this will help you make an informed choice.

[raden]

hai anchoo, kamu kah yang kirim surat pada Thestar? saya pernah terbaca apa yang kamu tulis ni dalam Thestar. hmm, racist ada dimana-mana sahaja, biarlah mereka jadi racist yang penting jangan jadi seperti mereka. hidup hanya sementara , saya tidak ada masa untuk membenci kiwis, saya suka New Zealand dan keindahannya.mungkin hanya segelintir sahaja Kiwis yang bersikap sedemikian. Malaysian juga seharusnya berasa malu kerana ramai dari kita yang memandang serong pada negro, dan masih ramai racist.

I LOVE KIWIS..

[shade]

i normally don't care about other nations or races, but are serious? are you not exaggerating?

"a chinese dude got punched in the face", "a tundung girl got spat on"? these are stories from the mouth, right? the mouth can easily include emotions of anger and hate to a simple story of misunderstanding.

i can't be a real judge since i've been to christchurch for a few days and what i make of it is that the place is some what diverse and peaceful. (i was there during what the locals call the "dull" period)

by the way, i was in nz recently and the beautiful scenic stuff gets boring after a few days. :P

[Fourthshifter]

Good people and bad people are everywhere. There are uneducated morons no matter which country you settle in.

Don't tell me there is not nice people? The article only highlight some morons and bad news.


i normally don't care about other nations or races, but are serious? are you not exaggerating?

"a chinese dude got punched in the face", "a tundung girl got spat on"? these are stories from the mouth, right? the mouth can easily include emotions of anger and hate to a simple story of misunderstanding.



Such racist violence happened in Russia and it is a serious trouble.

[Butters]

all racists should be shot dead....

[Fourthshifter]

all racists should be shot dead....


This concept is far worse than racism.

[Fourthshifter]

Honestly, aren4't there racism in Malaysia?

In Malaysia it is daylight racism
and they don't let you talk about it.
they claim to have rights even to spill words like "bath the keris with Chinese blood"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketuanan_melayu

[dnsz89]

is it really THAT bad? NZ is always depicted as a peaceful place with a diverse and multicultural population.
maybe its prevalent in certain areas.

[nysha]

racism is sumting tht we kenot run away frm....its evry whr actually....it depends on hw v luk at it...as 4 me igonoring it is the best way
________
E-Cigarette Store (http://www.ecigarettes123.com/)

[vseehua]

all racists should be shot dead....most racist comment ever...

[Achoo]

Thank you everyone for your input.

Ya raden, saya yang tulis kepada the Star. i don't have the time to hate racist people either but when their actions directly affect me, well I can't turn a blind eye. I don't think hate is the answer but we must at least take a stand for ourselves. that is good advice you gave: Jangan jadi seperti mereka.

nysha, i would have agreed with you about ignoring racist people had I not have seen the overwhelming racism in christchurch. However, by ignoring them we are not standing up for what we believe is right. Unless, we help put a stop to their behavior, it will happen to someone else. It's similar to being bullied in school. Would you ignore the bullies and let them pick on other kids? No! As observers, we should step in to make sure the other kids are not bullied.



Fourthshifter, I agree with you there are racist people everywhere even at home. If indeed racism is due to ignorance then we must help educate them, so intolerance is not perpetuated. I am not putting a spin on my stories. Of course there are nice people here. But what I am saying is that the actions of a few are tremendously influential at times. Let's take the example of a school playground. If there is even one bully the lives of other kids are made hell. The other kids could be perfect angels but all it takes is one to wreck havoc.

I agree NZ is a beautiful country. Unfortunately it's beauty is marred by racism. The stories are not hearsay. I was victimized twice. I know the woman in tudung that was yelled at.

dnsz89, you are right, it is more prevalent in certain areas. Christchurch is one of the most racist places in NZ (a fact i discovered soon after I arrived).

Shade, I am not exaggerating. It happened to me and friends I know. BTW it was a chinese girl not a dude. Most of the racist incidents happen to girls, usually on their own even in broad daylight. yes the solution would be not to walk alone but it seems very sad to have to live one's life in fear and to be forced to move in packs for fear. Am glad you had a good experience in NZ. that is what i hope for others.

Butters, you seem very passionate about racism. Personally i would not shoot them but I do think you can channel your enthusiasm in another way. i would be excited to see what you can do for the cause.

Thank you all for your input. I hope wherever you decide to attend college even at home, that you will have a positive experience.

[Fourthshifter]

hmm...
the name of the town also sounds discriminating.

[ElansarGelmir]

Good people and bad people are everywhere. There are uneducated morons no matter which country you settle in.

Pot..... kettle..... black


Achoo,

Although it didn't really surprise me that you encounter many racist incidents in New Zealand (be glad that you're not in Australia), I'm more shocked that nothing's being done to quell such hate crime. The non-kiwis should stand united and not be afraid to stand up for themselves and their fellow counterparts. I would suggest that you be well-informed about laws against racism in New Zealand so that you can charge the offenders in the court for their repugnant violation. I also had a personal racist encounter here in the States myself, but it was just some verbal assault by some drunk dimwit who couldn't tell the difference between a chinese and a japanese. But had he touched a strand of hair of mine that night, I would have brought him to the college's supreme justice.

[maxx]

all racists should be shot dead....
it will only lead thing to become worse...... *curious* where u get this kind of idea?

[Fourthshifter]

all racists should be shot dead....
it will only lead thing to become worse...... *curious* where u get this kind of idea?


from marketing and some political campaign?

[Achoo]

Elansar,

I am sorry to hear you faced racism as well. That is good advice you offered, I will familiarize myself with the law in NZ. I lived in the states for over a decade and wished they had the same laws here in NZ against human rights violations. Yes I agree we need to be more verbal and stand up against racism.

[Ca3ine]

wow I'm going to NZ.reading this makes me scared.

[Danial]

Lol....luckily i'm not going NZ....weelll, if i do...i definitely be scared right now....getting punch by not being a kiwi? wow...thats sucks

[vseehua]

wow I'm going to NZ.reading this makes me scared.
i have several friends who are staying in New Zealand and had never heard of any racist treatment against them. I guess it's down to the people whether to be friendly or not

[artistic1412]

lolz

i dunno much, ive been to christchurch

bese2 je

but for a slight while only

[tomatoinc]

Hmm.. I am one year too late.. but achoo, I have been in Christchurch for the past 6 years, and being a chinese malaysian myself, i have NEVER EVER encounter any racism abuse - both verbal or physical. I also go out to town and about a lot, and yet, I have never come across any random racism insult. The only incident i had was when I was working as a residential staff in the hall, and the guy was promptly reported to police for trespassing our property.

I am trying hard to think whether i know you. undergrad in US, and postgrad in chch. pls message me if you get this message.

I am a graduate student and have lived in Christchurch, New Zealand for the last 4 months. We often hear about how beautiful and environmentally aware Kiwis are. It is a pity that awareness does not transcend into the areas of multiculturalism and diversity.

In the first week I was in Christchurch, someone in the next car yelled out a racist insult pointing to my Chinese ancestry. Two weeks later, while at an ATM, a man yelled out the same racist comment. To date I have been here four months and have heard countless stories about racism. A fellow Malaysian student who wears a 'tudung' was also scorned and yelled at. She has only been in Christchurch for 3 weeks. Her friend who also dons a 'tudung' was spat on. A Chinese national student was punched in the face. And there are countless more. Other international students who are not so easily distinguished from the local Kiwis have not met with such incidences.

I am certain not all Kiwis are racist but it is unfortunate that the
racism I and other Asian students have encountered in the short time we have lived here makes us think they are a minority. As an undergraduate, I studied in the US and did not encounter any racism there. So this treatment from Kiwis is a real shocker. As Malaysians abroad who support their local economy (by spending good money to educate ourselves and our children) we deserve to be treated fairly. Racism and intolerance are unacceptable.

To be fair to New Zealand, I have not encountered any racism within the university. My graduate supervisor is very supportive (he is American though) and others within the university walls have been encouraging. I write this not to smear the good name of New Zealand but to spur others who believe in tolerance and diversity into action. To parents who are thinking about sending their children here for school or university and to individuals who are about to make the same decision, I hope this will help you make an informed choice.