95bFM Human rights commissioner faces calls to resign or be fired from his role
16 April, 2025
Interview by Joel Armstrong, adapted by Samantha Watson-Tayler
Justice for Palestine's Samira Zaiton says that due to recent allegations of Islamophobia and controversial comments made in the past, Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, is not fit for his role, and should either resign or be sacked.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Stephen Rainbow, is facing calls for his resignation or termination after making comments that have been criticised as being Islamophobic, and therefore inappropriate for someone in his position.
This follows a meeting between Rainbow and Philippa Yasbeck of Alternative Jewish Voices and Dayenu in February, where Rainbow said the Muslim community are the biggest threat to the Jewish community in the country as opposed to white supremacy, using a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) assessment to back his claim.
However, Yasbek said Rainbow is misrepresenting the NZSIS assessment which says both that white supremacists represent the largest share of violent extremism in Aotearoa and that the report should not be used to single out any one ethnic group.
Co-convenor of Justice for Palestine, Samira Zaiton, told 95bFM's The Wire that Rainbow’s comments go against the very spirit of the Human Rights Commission’s previous campaign, Give Nothing to Racism.
“[The Give Nothing to Racism campaign] included making small remarks, laughing at racist jokes, et cetera, et cetera, and I think that Stephen Rainbow is doing exactly what this campaign was talking about, which is fuelling racism in Aotearoa.”
Despite Rainbow’s apologies for his comments, which included meeting with the Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) to improve their relationship and saying he has a better understanding of the communities affected by his comments, Zaiton says an apology at this stage is inadequate given Rainbow's position.
“I think it's great that he has said that he is gaining a deeper understanding of the issues at play. [... however] when you're at the helm of an organisation that is there to protect Aotearoa and her people, then there is no room for making those sorts of comments. You should already know that that is not okay. Islamophobia is not okay, and if you don't understand that you're making an Islamophobic comment, then you probably shouldn't be in that role.”
Zaiton emphasises the importance of keeping these views out of the Human Rights Commission, especially six years on from the deadly Christchurch mosque terrorist attack, where 51 innocent people were killed.
She says there is a potential that if Rainbow does not face adequate repercussions, this could undermine public trust in the Human Rights Commission.
“[This] would 100% lead to distrust and mistrust, if it hasn't already.”
“For many people, and I'm speaking as someone who is part of Palestinian and Muslim communities and the wider Arab community, I feel that there is a huge risk that people who are in these minority communities, who are at risk of racial discrimination, say, the place that we're supposed to go to is the Human Rights Commission.”
However, Zaiton emphasises the importance of the Human Rights Commission and the work it does, regardless of who is leading the commission.
“Please do not be put off by the person at the helm, because there are a lot of people in the organisation who are doing good work, and it's our job to make sure that we protect it. The human rights framework, we believe in it, and it's not great, it's not perfect, but we do need it, and so we must stand up for it.”
