Abdur Razzaq is the national coordinator of the Ethnic and Faith Community Leaders Network
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Ethnic and faith community leaders are calling for an end to “race-baiting” language ahead of the general election.
Abdur Razzaq from the Ethnic and Faith Community Leaders Network condemned what he called misinformation targeting migrant communities.
“We want robust discussion on immigration,” he said. “What we do not want is misinformation and disinformation.”
The comments come amid growing pre-election debate about migration, overstayers and crime.
Razzaq said ethnic leaders had written to party leaders earlier this year warning against importing divisive overseas political tactics into New Zealand.
He feared increasingly hostile rhetoric around immigration could deepen social fractures.
He said New Zealand risked repeating patterns seen overseas, where anti-immigrant narratives have been weaponised politically.
“This kind of politics has divided societies overseas,” he said.
”We don’t want New Zealand importing those divisions.”
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