Far-Right literature disturbs
Despite suggestions a far-Right activist group was winding down, distribution of literature relating to the group in Nelson has raised concerns over a residual presence in the city.
Stickers and flyers bearing the name of nationalist group the Dominion Movement have been circulating in Nelson’s CBD and in the vicinity of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology as recently as yesterday.
Accompanied by the slogan ‘‘Family, community, nation’’, imagery on the stickers features a Haast eagle and a nuclear family of caucasian appearance. Another depicts the death of colonial soldier Gustavus Von Tempsky in the New Zealand Wars, under the heading ‘‘We will remember them.’’
President of NMIT student association SANITI, Cornelius Prinsloo, said he removed about 30 stickers on Monday morning before notifying police. The stickers had been put up on lamp posts and buildings, although he could not confirm whether they had been posted before or after last Friday’s terror attacks in Christchurch.
‘‘Free speech and hate speech are different,’’ he said. ‘‘These stickers were not welcomed on campus, as it risks harm and isolation of a large number of our students, and there were no apparent positivity around it.
‘‘Our message is one of inclusiveness, love, and support.’’
More than 1000 international students from 35 countries study at NMIT, with the Nelson mosque located near the polytechnic.
To show support for those affected the Christchurch tragedy, SANITI held a shared morning tea in its student centre this week, and encouraged students to bring a flower to be taken to the Nelson and Blenheim mosques.
The Dominion Movement originated in Wellington, and according to its website is committed to ‘‘the revitalisation of our country and our people: White New Zealanders’’.
The organisation had previously put up flyers around Nelson last year.
While distancing itself from any links to the Christchurch attacks, the group acknowledged that the atmosphere in the aftermath had made it impossible to continue its work, and it would be ceasing all operations immediately.