OpinionAs New Zealand grieves over the Christchurch terrorist attack, it must come to terms with how hatred was able to take root
- Research shows anti-Muslim prejudice in New Zealand, while lower than in other Western countries, is higher than prejudice against other minority groups
- Studies also show biased media representations are associated with negative attitudes towards Muslims
The country’s geographic remoteness and relative lack of historical conflict had led to a collective sense of being shielded from that global hate-fuelled violence.
New Zealand now must come to terms with how such a tragedy could happen in a place that values ideals of multiculturalism, tolerance and social integration as critical and fundamental components of its collective national identity.
New Zealand is one of the most multicultural, diverse and tolerant countries in the world – more so than countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Especially in the country’s many urban centres, people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds regularly interact peaceably, as friends, co-workers, and family.
This does not mean, however, that some groups in New Zealand do not face more difficulty than others.