IR-01-25-31363
7 October 2025
James
fyi-request-31573-9c [email address]
Tena koe James
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 14 July 2025. You
asked for information regarding threats and crimes targeted at the Jewish and
Israeli community.
My response to each part of your request can be found below.
How many, if any, threats against the Jewish community in NZ have police
received since January 2023?
I have interpreted this part of your request to be for the number of threats reported to
Police.
Police records hate crime using a 'perceived hate contributing factor flag'. Please see
below tables which shows a count of Offences/Incidents with the hate types of
Religion/Faith Judaism and Race/Ethnicity Antisemitic by month since January 2023.
Offences and Incidents are combined. Each record could be flagged as both the hate
types of Antisemitic and Judaism, but each Offence/Incident has only been counted
once in the corresponding tables.
Table 1. Number of Hate Crime Occurrences against Judaism, January 2023 -August 2025
Reported
Month
Judaism
Jan-23
1
Feb-23
2
Mar-23
2
Apr-23
1
Jul-23
1
Aug-23
1
Seot-23
1
Oct-23
17
Nov-23
33
Dec-23
18
Jan-24
11
Feb-24
3
Mar-24
5
Apr-24
3
May-24
2
Jun-24
5
Aug-24
2
Sept-24
5
Oct-24
7
Nov-24
7
Dec-24
5
Jan-25
7
Feb-25
6
Mar-25
4
Apr-25
1
May-25
3
Jun-25
4
Jul-25
3
Aug-25
9
Total
169
Table 2. Number of Hate Crime Occurrences reported as Antisemitic, January 2023 –
August 2025
Reported
Month
Antisemitic
Feb-23
1
Mar-23
3
Apr-23
2
May-23
3
Jun-23
1
Aug-23
3
Sept-23
2
Oct-23
13
Nov-23
41
Dec-23
26
Jan-24
13
Feb-24
5
Mar-24
6
Apr-24
5
May-24
4
Jun-24
5
Jul-24
8
Aug-24
8
Sept-24
6
Oct-24
4
Nov-24
11
Dec-24
7
Jan-25
12
Feb-25
7
Mar-25
10
Apr-25
5
May-25
4
Jun-25
5
Jul-25
11
Aug-25
17
Total
248
Data in this response is drawn from a dynamic operational database and is subject to
change as new information is recorded or updated.
Have any charges been laid or arrests made regarding any of the below
incidents?
Have any of the incidents been designated a "hate crime"?
For convenience, I have grouped the incidents you listed below according to the nature of
my response.
Graffiti in Wellington's Aro Valley reading "I hated Jews before it was cool" - May
2025
Graffiti in Auckland reading "Genocide High School" - February 2025 Greys Ave
in Auckland CBD
These incidents are currently under investigation and therefore the requested information
is withheld under section 6(c) of the OIA, as releasing it would likely to prejudice the
maintenance of the law.
Desecration of Jewish headstones at Grafton cemetery in Auckland - October
2012 Nazi emblems spray painted on graves including "fuck Israel"
Two individuals were charged with intentional damage, both of whom were convicted.
Hate Crime recording started in August 2019 and Te Raranga was established in July
2021. Prior to August 2019 Police data was not able to be differentiated by adding a hate
type flag.
Swastika spray painted on the statue of Sir Dove- Myer Robinson in Auckland -
November 2023
The graffiti was allegedly created during a protest at Aotea Square. While charges were
laid during this protest, they were for separate incidents. No investigation was conducted
for the graffiti as it was not reported to Police.
Pro-Palestinian graffiti sprayed on the fence of the Ben Shalom center and an
attempt was made to set it on fire in Epsom, Auckland November 2023
An investigation was opened but was subsequently closed as there were no further lines
of inquiry. This matter was flagged as having a perceived hate contributing factor.
Anti-Semitic graffiti reading "Majurey lies" with two Star of David symbols beneath
his name atop Mt Albert - Auckland, April 2020
While Police made initial inquires to this matter, no investigation was opened as there
were no witnesses or CCTV footage. This matter was not flagged as having a perceived
hate contributing factor.
Swastikas spray painted outside Sinai Temple in Wellington and on different
parts of the footpath on the terrace and outside the Wellington Jewish
Progressive Congregation on Ghuznee street. January 2020
An investigation was opened but was subsequently closed as there were no further lines
of inquiry. This matter was flagged as having a perceived hate contributing factor.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Tobias Vandenberg
Team Leader (Acting) – Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
