NZ Muslim and Jewish groups sign Govt-backed accord

By CathNews New Zealand

July 29th, 2025

Mark Mitchell (New Zealand National Party)

Some of New Zealand's Muslim and Jewish leaders have signed a harmony and peace accord backed by the Government. Source: Radio New Zealand.

The Government-led initiative sets out a shared commitment to peace, solidarity, and social cohesion, and will create a joint council between the two communities.

The signed accord was presented at Government House in Auckland on July 22. About 70 people attended, including representatives of the New Zealand Jewish Council, His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand and the Jewish Community Security Group.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro said the accord was not just symbolic, but would lead to action against discrimination and isolation.

Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell said it was important that global conflicts were not imported into New Zealand, and the accord signalled the beginning of work to support social cohesion.

He did not mention Gaza in his speech, saying afterwards that was because there were many other conflicts in the world at present.

“The focus obviously on our Muslim and our Jewish communities here is quite simply we’re seeing a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism around the world, [and] our communities back here feel exposed. We don’t want to import that conflict into our country. We still retain the ability to engage in peaceful protest, freedom of speech, but not to weaponise those things and use them in a violent or intimidatory way,” Mr Mitchell said.

The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand said the accord was a call to action for communities to support each other in the face of antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and bigotry.

Federation of Islamic Associations’ spokesperson Abdur Razzaq said it was a good start, and he wanted other faith groups and tangata whenua to be brought in.

But two advocacy groups have disagreed with the accord’s focus.

The Islamic Council of New Zealand (ICONZ) and Alternative Jewish Voices said there was no disharmony between the two faiths in New Zealand, and the conflict in Gaza was political, and not a religious issue.

FULL STORY

‘Gaza is not a religious issue’: Advocates split on government harmony accord | RNZ News (Radio New Zealand)