Concern at white nationalist flyers seeking recruits
Tuesday, 3 August 2021
Flyers delivered to Nelson households by a far right group seeking new recruits have sparked concern.
The pamphlets from white nationalist group Action Zealandia have appalled residents and have been reported to police by Nelson MP Rachel Boyack.
They outline the group's “stand against degradation” and the “revitalisation of our people, culture, environment and community”.
Last year the group vandalised the office of former Nelson MP Nick Smith, who called the graffiti “white-supremacist rubbish,” and compared the group’s ideology to Nazism.
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The pamphlet put in Nelson letterboxes said the ideal Action Zealandia member was a “physically fit, tidy European male of sound mind and good character.” Criteria included no criminal convictions and being between the ages of 18 and 35.
Non-Europeans, drug users, and libertarians who would like to join the group were told to look elsewhere.
Huria, a Richmond nurse, was on maternity leave when she found an Action Zealandia pamphlet in her letterbox.
She went back over her security footage and saw the man who delivered it.
“I didn't recognise him. He definitely looked older, and was dressed all in black, with a black hat on to hide his identity.”
Huria said it was shocking to see such material so close to home.
She said it was crazy how many people were starting to voice far-right and white supremacist views.
“Look at politics at the moment, there is so much division with the hate speech law.”
However, Huria said she didn’t believe hate speech was the norm for Nelson.
“I haven't personally experienced racism in Nelson. I don’t think Nelson is racist place. It’s a small group of people trying to promote white supremacist stuff.”
A Richmond woman who also received a flyer in her letterbox said she felt shocked and disgusted that something overtly racist had been put in her letter box, saying that she had “no place for racism” in her family.
The woman was particularly distressed as she has a teenage son. She wondered if recruiters had seen her son entering and leaving their address, leading them to put the pamphlet in their letter box.
She was also worried vulnerable young men in Richmond could read the pamphlet and be caught up in its ideology.
Nelson Labour MP Rachel Boyack said several concerned people had contacted her about receiving Action Zealandia material in their letterboxes. She found the literature “absolutely appalling.”
“I know that the overwhelming majority of Nelsonians will agree with me when I say there is no place for these ugly and hurtful views in our community.
“Anyone, no matter where there are from or how they identify, has a right to feel safe wherever they choose to make their home.”
Boyack said she had raised the issue with police.
Senior Sergeant Hamish Chapman said that police were aware of the pamphlets, and Action Zealandia.
He said at this stage no offence had been committed by the group by distributing pamphlets to letterboxes.
In response to questions emailed to Action Zealandia a member called Mike said he could not disclose information regarding the number of members in the Nelson chapter and whether the flyers had resulted in new recruits.
Asked if Action Zealandia was a white supremacist group or if people of non-European descent with similar values could join Action Zealandia or its support group, he did not answer directly.
He said the organisation was a “European identity group” that advocated for European interests.
He did not deny the group’s connection to the Nordic Resistance Movement, a Swedish neo-Nazi political movement, but said Action Zealandia unequivocally did not condone violence, and that they were a “community orientated group” with families.