New Zealand police have launched an investigation after racist graffiti threatening “all Indians” were discovered outside the gate of a school in Auckland. The incident is said to have sparked widespread anger and concern among community leaders and residents.
The racially offensive message was found on a footpath near Papatoto Central School in the suburb of Papatoto on Saturday, before it was reported by local residents and quickly removed. The incident came one day after three members of the Papatoetoe Otara Task Force were re-elected to the Otara-Papatoto Local Council, with the Auckland District Court ordering the election to be held again citing voter fraud.
The Papatoetoe Ōtara staff, made up of Indian New Zealanders, were accused on social media of orchestrating the scam despite a court finding no evidence of their involvement.The authorities confirmed that investigations are continuing to treat the incident as a hate crime. Inspector Dave Christopherson told RNZ police were in the early stages of the investigation but acknowledged the serious impact such incidents had on the Indian community in the area.
He added: “We realize that this will be concerning, and we are focused on identifying those responsible.” The school’s leadership also condemned the letter, with principal Raj Dolap saying the community was “deeply saddened and offended.” The school board emphasized in a statement that racism and hatred have no place in the school or the broader community, adding that the well-being of students and families remains its top priority. Indian-origin MP Parmjit Parmar criticized the graffiti, calling it “despicable and cowardly” and called on the police to take quick action. She added that such threats were extremely harmful to a community that contributes significantly to the country across sectors including healthcare, education, IT and small businesses. The incident also sparked local dissatisfaction and caused fear and anxiety among families. Harpal Singh Lohi, a long-time resident, said he had never seen such behavior in decades of living in the area. Authorities urged anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue. Recently, anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand has seen a sharp rise marked by incidents of harassment and public protests. In December 2025, protesters called “True New Zealand Patriots” disrupted Sikh religious parades in South Auckland wearing T-shirts with slogans such as “Kiwi First” and “Keep New Zealand, New Zealand”, while holding a sign reading “This is New Zealand, not India.”
Additionally, earlier this year, RNZ reported that police data on hate crimes showed people of South Asian descent were the group most targeted for racist abuse.
