20/20 received huge amounts of feedback on the Skin Deep story about racism in Nelson. Here is some of that feedback...
I'd just like to say how disgusted I felt when watching those few Nelsonians talk so horribly about Asians. I myself am of European ethnicity, but that doesn't make me different from anyone else. Don't judge people on face-value. NZ is a multi-cultural country and we should embrace that. In fact, if anyone should be leaving the country, it should be them [the racists] - Jess.
I would like to suggest TVNZ do a live broadcast to educate these violent offenders in Nelson, that in Auckland ,we do things differently. We do not beat up people because they are Chinese or Korean. Instead, for almost 9 years, 2-3 days each week , we eat with them, talk with them ,sing with them, and share our homes with them as they do with us. And it all began when my spiritual father who is Korean rescued me from a serious breakdown. I am a New Zealand Maori descendant - Maryanne
I am an international student, from South Korea, attending Auckland University studying Psychology. Interestingly, the subject that I am studying at University at the moment is social development and cultural psychology. I have always enjoyed watching 20/20, and I praised how you deal with issues regarding the minorities of the society, which can be easily forgotten or neglected. However, I am a little disappointed (not at 20/20) at how New Zealand media always tends to portray Asian people as being victimized or being objectified. A lot of New Zealanders even seem to think Asian people are here to study because they are so rich. But in many cases it is untrue. Students do work part-time and their parents are very hard working people, not necessarily rich, and at the end of the day, not different for them at all. So, I thought, maybe if 20/20 takes a different approach on this subject, (Racism and International Students for Asia), and shows people what all these Asian international students are doing FOR New Zealand in terms of its economy, perhaps people would change their perception and think 'having Asian international students in New Zealand isn't that bad' - Jae Kim
As a sixth generation Pakeha Nelsonian I was disturbed, yet not surprised, by your report on racism in the Sunshine City. My best friend worked as a junior doctor in A and E at Nelson Hospital a few years ago, and was horrified by the amount of Asian tourists and students she had to treat, who had been victims of racial violence. My own, rather humorous, encounter with racism in Nelson occurred when I wore an indian dress into the Richmond shopping centre and was subjected to verbal abuse from Pakeha shoppers; "Oh why are you lot all coming here these days?" And the ever so typical; "Why don't they stay in their own country?!" As a Pakeha Kiwi I found it somewhat amusing to be racially abused by my own country folk, however for it to happen to an innocent Asian student, child, visitor or Asian New Zealander this kind of abuse I find appalling, disgusting and a shameful blot on our green, tolerant, supposedly progressive society. A "final solution" to people like "Gemma" would be to send them off to a country (preferably third world) in Asia for 21 months. There they would learn tolerance, humility and decent manners, and on their return to New Zealand they would have something to offer our country rather than continue to pollute it with their stale and pathetic ignorance and downright nastiness. - Heidi
Tonight my family witnessed the apalling rise of racism in our own Godzone! To be associated to this low level of humanity is atrostisch at the least. No living being, whatever that persons size, colour, race, height, shape, etc, etc is any pathetic excuse to believe you are better than anyone else. We are all equal, NO MATTER WHAT!!! What legends those two girls must feel like. How tough they are. Legends on TV. Bless their souls. - Christina
The two young women on your story "Skin Deep" are proof that the people at the bottom of our society are those with the least words in the bank. The victims of these young womens hate are here to study not take jobs. If Gemma and her friend spent some time studying instead of getting drunk they might increase their chances of getting one of the jobs they fear Asians are taking from them. - Kevin
In your last episode on Racism in Nelson , your correspondent
asked a group of foreign student why don't they go to the police to
complain about racism? Here is someone who did approach the police
after a very serious racial attack by skinhead, but the police
refused to lodge a complaint. The incident took place exactly
2 days before our wedding at Hamilton when a skinhead racist
threatened and abused me and wife without any provocation
whatsoever. All sorts of racial slurs were hurled at us, especially
to my wife ,she being an Asian and she almost got physically
assaulted. She escaped a physical attack by sheer luck as a result
of us withdrawing from the scene (read escaping). We called the
police, who did not care to turn up at the spot and then when we
went to the Hamilton Central police station armed with the
description of the racist guy and the registration number of the
car he was driving, the police refused to lodge our complaints
saying that no physical assault has taken place and therefore it is
not an harassment!! Though 4 years has passed the scur of
this incident is still fresh in our mind and every time we see a
program like yours in TV we feel the anger boiling inside us for
not being able to do anything for the violation we suffered. New
Zealand is a very migrant friendly country, but when racism does
occur it is no worse than anywhere else in the world. Therefore New
Zealanders should not turn their face away from this problem and
instead should try to eradicate it completely. - Roy
As a Proud Thai living in Nelson i just have to say that i know
about this problem. Having bottles chucked at me and racial
bullying in the past i hope that the story shown will help
Nelsonians and New Zealander's to look and reflect on this to be
more open and make a difference in all of our attitudes toward
people of different ethnicity's and that we can all put attitudes
like that behind of us as a proud multicultural nation - Andy
Your story about racism in Nelson made me so angry. We have a large
variety of cultures within new zealand & that's what add
character to our beautiful country. Here we have nazi loving idiots
telling asian people to go home like they are the native people of
our country, everyone has the right to be here. These idiots need
to remember that maori are the native people of our country, so if
they cant leave the asian community alone they should take their
own advice & 'GO HOME - Matt
Im a 16 year old & I am half Asian and half European. I don't
understand why people have to mock other cultures. I mean how would
they like it if someone mocked them about being white? They wouldnt
like it either. They should treat others they way they want to be
treated - Rissah
After watching the programme on Asians in NZ, I believe that what I feel is very common amongst most New Zealanders - some speak up, I do, others don't but still feel the same. We are not at all racist, but have some views that should be recognised and appreciated. I think that Asians should think about fitting in more with the NZ way of life. If we were in any of their countries, except as tourists, we would be expected to live as they live. - Lyn
Hi, I'm just writing to say. I enjoyed your story on racism in
nelson. I'm a first generation New Zealand born Chinese and i
thought it was about time for people around New Zealand to see and
hear about what happens to all different races especially Asians on
a day to day basis. But i do think Nelson especially has a racism
problem, as I've been to and lived in other parts of the country,
Nelson was the only place i had received racist remarks. I
currently live in Nelson and go to Nelson College , and think its
one of the best city's in New Zealand. One thing my friends told me
about racism was "Who has time to be racist and have so much hate
against a person that they don't even know". This is something
people should think about before letting themselves be consumed by
so much disgusting hate - Damien
After watching today's show about racism in NZ, it really makes me
sad how much racism there is in New Zealand and a lot people choose
to ignore or deny the problem. As migrant from Taiwan (lived in NZ
for 17 years) I had my "fair share" of racism. Teenager girls swear
at me and tell me to go back to my F###en country. It scares me not
because of the hatred but the fact they think its funny. Makes me
think what kind of idea and attitude was taught to them -
Sophia
I find it despicable that these type of people are actually out there, especially when NZ promotes the multicultural acceptance of all religions and cultures. the girl terrorized is my age. im chinese. i am the second generation born in new zealand. im appalled by this and the fact that the people of such a "accepting" nation has let this carry on. - Stephanie
I have nothing against white people but this is how some Maoris feel about white people taking our land but we had to live with it. Surprising as it is there is all so a lot of polynesian people too as well as asian but i don't see white people bashing them up!....i wonder why - Anon
Being a White Nationalist myself I can tell you those two girls are hardly representative of what we stand for and having dealt with Anti-Fascists and Communists I have seen who are the real threats to NZ culture. Also Asians are not the problem and I would even say I admire Japans Ethnocentric beliefs. The problem is the glorification of "Gangsta" immaturity that is constantly imposed on us. Racism is a double edge sword and Whites get most (if not all) of the blame - Aiden
I'm currently watching tonights episode and have found it disturbing that the story of the racism was even aired, why give the abusers the publicity, having this on air acknowledges their disgusting behaviour! Its just like showing violence on tv that ultimately results in society following that behaviour. I am NZ born of chinese and cook island descent and proud of my culture and i have encountered racist situations where the abusers were quick to run scarce or shut up because of my no tolerance for this type of arrogance. My best advice for the victims would be to stay strong, stand up for yourself and talk about it to friends, particularly the police- its their job to protect the victims not the abusers!! If they can't accept people at face value shows how deep they must go with their own selection of friends - Janine
Racism is an appalling and disgraceful human act committed by a bunch of ignorant people. How would they feel if they were in their foreign counterparts' countries where they are subjected to racist remarks made by those who still hold a resentment towards colonialism in the past? - Steffy
Im am EXTREMELY disappointed in the whole of nelson. How can people be so cruel? what did asians ever do to them? is just living your life a crime now because of your race? and how dare that man have the right to say that nelson isn't racist? does anyone else find that absolutely RIDICULOUS!? this is truly sickening. people need a reality check. SERIOUSLY - Milena
I just watched your segment on the racial issues that Asian people are facing in Nelson and while I am disgusted by what these human beings are being subjected to, I found one of the tattooist's comments quite hilarious. When he stated that he doesn't want Asians to take over new Zealand, I laughed because if he ever decided to pick up a book on New Zealand history, he'll realise that Aotearoa faced a Pakeha take over. Ignorant much? - Sean
Me and my husband have found it amusing that one of the racists
on you show tonight has covered himself in swastika tattoos.
He is obviously unaware that the swastika is originally from Japan
and was stolen by Hitler. Ironic really - Anon
