In February Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow met with Alternative Jewish Voices spokeswoman Phillippa Yasbek and discussed social cohesion in New Zealand. At the meeting, which was also attended by Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby (more on her later), Dr Rainbow attacked the Muslim community, which caused considerable offence and resulted in complaints.
When a Human Rights Commissioner is doing their job, they must be working for all New Zealanders, irrespective of how long they have been in the country, where they are from or – in this case – what their religious denomination is. It is brazenly unbecoming of a Commissioner to so overtly attack a particular demographic in the way that Dr Rainbow has done.
Dr Rainbow is a political appointee. We know this from the fact that he got his current role despite significant push back when the appointment was made in 2024. Dr Rainbow has consistently supported Israel whilst it continues its campaign of genocidal madness against the Palestinian people.
Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith should put Dr Rainbow on written notice that further offensive commentary will result in his dismissal. Although the latter has apologized to the Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand, it seems to be part of a longer term pattern with past occurrences having happened as well.
Anna Rawhiti-Connell from Spinoff questions the suitability of his appointment, as I do I here. Whilst Mr Goldsmith is Minister, he should also revisit the other appointments that were made at the same time and see if Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby is fit to continue holding her office. Ms Derby has been a consistent opponent of transgender people, and is a a founding member of the Free Speech Union, which is an astroturf organization that believes hate speech is acceptable.
As yet Ms Derby has not made such a virulently overt attack on a minority group in the way that Dr Rainbow has. However, as there should be no place ever for such anti-_________ attitudes by someone whose very office is meant to be working for all New Zealanders, it would not be remiss to place a big question mark over Ms Derby’s future.
A third appointment was made at the same time Ms Derby and Dr Rainbow were appointed to their existing roles. This was Prudence Walker, who is Disability Rights Commissioner. At the time of writing this I am not aware of any wrongdoing by her.
The manner in which these appointments were made was also brought into question at the time of them being announced. Mr Goldsmith ignored the recommendations that Dr Rainbow not be appointed; appointed Ms Derby to a role she did not actually apply for. This may have brought us into trouble with the Global Alliance for Human Rights Institutions, which governs which nations get to present at the United Nations Human Rights Council, and who might be involved in G.A.N.H.R.I.’s governance.
Given that the U.N.H.R.C. is where we can influence the global playbook on human rights, being able to speak at it should be something New Zealand holds dear. But if we compromise ourselves by having poorly selection and governance processes, then we open ourselves to the risk that Australia faced a few years ago, when the government of Scott Morrison likewise made a bungled non-transparent appointment. In that case though Australia redeemed itself when the current Government of Prime Anthony Albanese introduced a more transparent process.
Will we learn from Australia’s experience?
Leftist Kiwi Writes 