NZ to ban Nazi symbols and speech?
The New Zealand government is indicating to follow Australia’s banning of Nazi symbols and speech.
NZ Prime Minister Chris Luxon
In January this year, the Australian government banned both acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Shoah as well as terrorist acts.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand says now is the right time to discuss this complex issue.
HCNZ Chairwoman Deborah Hart told J-Wire: “I think New Zealand is going to have to consider whether it too bans Nazi symbols and Nazi speech as a protection not just for the Jewish community, but for us all”.
She went told New Zealand Herald that “we’re always concerned about the use of Nazi memorabilia and symbols and tropes in our society”. The caveat, however, was that “there is a balancing act to be done here regarding the right to free speech, but there are limits on free speech.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is open to discussing the issue, claiming that “we are up for those conversations”.
ACT leader David Seymour, a coalition partner and government minister, has voiced opposition to any ban, claiming that it would reduce people’s ability to identify the “idiots” in society and potentially create Bill of Rights issues.
Responding in Parliament to a question regarding the banning of Nazi symbols, he replied: “I hate those symbols and salutes, but I quite like knowing who the idiots in society are, and if I prepare to self-identify like that, I think it’s actually helpful.”
The issue has come to a head following members of the Mongrel Mob openly using the Nazi chant “sieg heil”.
