The Postal Workers Union is calling on the Human Rights Commission to intervene as Wellington posties refuse to deliver a flyer, which they say contains misinformation.
Better Wellington created the flyer to attack what it calls wasteful spending in the city.
Among its claims, the flyer states the Wellington City Council wants to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer across the city. But the council said staff were only asked to clarify noise rules for calls to prayer on the anniversary of the March 15 terror attack.
“To use us as a political football, to get a message across – that’s shameful. That’s shameful and they should really look at themselves,” said Abdur Rassaq, who spoke on behalf of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand.
He said Kilbirne Mosque wanted to check with the council that they could have their call to prayer outside as part of commemorations.
He said: “This is a classic case where people are deliberately inciting hate against a vulnerable community and we have no legislative scaffolding to support us.”
But Better Wellington spokesperson Alistair Boyce said the council has lost focus and shouldn’t be involved in religious activities.
“It’s emblematic of the fact they’re thinking about social justice rather than getting the rates down and fiscal responsibility,” said Boyce.
He disagreed that the content expressed hostility towards the Islamic community.
“We’ve put it there purely to highlight the issues at Wellington City Council. We have no position on religion and we don’t want Wellington City Council to either. Why are they meddling in this?”
Union at odds with NZ Post
Meanwhile, a difference in opinion is also brewing between Wellington’s posties and their employer, New Zealand Post.
Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa national president John Maynard said: “This morning, posties actually said, ‘No, we don’t want to deliver it’ – three branches right across Wellington.”
But the New Zealand Post said it should be delivered, as it is “not appropriate for NZ Post to act as a censor in determining what it will and won’t deliver”.
Maynard said the state-owned enterprise is now saying they want it to be distributed tomorrow “except if Better Wellington withdraws it or a regulatory authority says there may be illegal content”.
Concerns of Islamophobia
Maynard is calling on New Zealand Post to get clearance from the Race Relations Commissioner before expecting posties to deliver the flyer.
“Where there is Islamophobia, there can be some pretty irrational behaviour and we’re really concerned about that and the posties don’t want to be part of undermining harmonious relationship,” he said.
The Human Rights Commission confirmed they have been approached by the union.
“Normally, I would not confirm an approach to the commission, but a union spokesperson has given me permission to do so,” a commission spokesperson said.
“We are in discussion with the union about what options are available to them.”