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Hate crime

What hate crimes and hate incidents are

A hate crime is an offence perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or age.

A hate incident is an act perceived to be motivated by hate for these characteristics, but doesn’t meet the threshold of being considered a crime.

Hate crimes and hate incidents can encompass a broad range of acts, including threatening behaviour, harassment and verbal abuse, online abuse, criminal damage, assault and sexual violence.

 

What you can do about it


If you or your friends or whānau have experienced abuse, violence, threats or intimidation motivated by hostility or prejudice, it is extremely important that you report it.

Hate crimes and hate incidents are rarely one-off, and information about your case will help prevent this happening to others.

The more data we have, the more effectively we can prevent and tackle it. Your experience matters and it’s important that you tell us about it.

 

How to make a report to Police

 

If someone is in danger or a crime or incident is happening now, call 111 immediately.

If an incident has already happened and no one is in immediate danger, report it online using the 105 online form.

Any evidence recorded or preserved from the incident will be important if there is an investigation.

  • Record a video or take photos of the crime or incident if you can.
  • Preserve any physical evidence.
  • Write down details of the time, location and people involved.

 

How to make a report or complaint to other agencies

 

We work with partner agencies across New Zealand to address hate crime and hate incidents. You can make a report or complaint directly to them.

Human Rights Commissi​on

Human Rights Commission offers a free and informal enquiries and complaints service to deal with unlawful discrimination and racial and sexual harassment issues.

If you have faced unlawful discrimination, you can make a complaint.

Netsafe

Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent non-profit online safety organisation.

If you experience harmful online content, you can make a report to Netsafe about it.

Department of Internal​ Affairs

The Digital Safety Team at Department of Internal Affairs investigates content that relates to violent extremism.

You can report violent extremist content at www.dia.govt.nz/Countering-Violent-Extremism-Online.

Crime Stoppers

If you witness or have information about a hate crime or hate incident, you can make a report to Crime Stoppers. Your report will be anonymous.

What to do if you witness a hate crime or hate incident

 

If you witness a hate crime or hate incident, it is important to support, record and tell someone.

Make sure the victim is safe and away from the offender. Make it clear they are not alone.

Tell the nearest authority or responsible person. This could be a bus driver, security guard or someone at a reception desk.

Call 111 if someone is in danger.

Any evidence recorded or preserved from the incident will be important if there is an investigation.

  • Record a video or take photos of the crime or incident if you can.
  • Preserve any physical evidence.
  • Write down details of the time, location and people involved.

 

How to report online hate

 

If you see offensive online content promoting hate, you should report it using Police’s 105 online form.

You can also make a report or complaint to our partner agencies.

If you experience harmful online content, you can make a report to Netsafe about it.

If you have faced unlawful discrimination, you can make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

 

Get support

 

You never have to feel like you are alone. There is always support available.

Victim Support

If you are the victim of a crime, no matter how serious, support is available. Victim Support can help you deal with the emotional and practical effects of the crime and provide information to help you understand the legal process.

Mental health support

There are a range of resources and services available to help, including phone and online services and information, and face to face support.

Depress​ion Helpline

1737

Suicide Crisis Helpline

  • 0508 TAUTOKO

The Lowdown

Lifeline

Community support

Iwi Liaison Officers

Police employs Iwi Liaison Officers to help navigate cultural issues and work on improving Police relationships with Māori.

Iwi Liaison Officers are Police officers and Police employees. They are based in every Police district in the country.

Visit the Iwi Liaison Officer webpage to find contact details for your local Iwi Liaison Officer.

Ethnic and Pacific Liaison Officers

Police has specialist liaison officers working in communities throughout the country.

They will listen to your concerns and work with you to improve safety in your communities.

Visit the Ethnic and Pacific Liaison webpage to find contact details for your local Ethnic or Pacific Liaison Officer.

Diversity Liaison Officers

Diversity Liaison Officers are located throughout New Zealand to provide liaison between Police and people in our community who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer.

Visit the Diversity Liaison Officer webpage to find contact details for your local Diversity Liaison Officer.

Neighbourhood Support

Neighbourhood Support works with Police to bring neighbourhoods together to create safe, resilient and connected communities.

To learn more about starting or joining a Neighbourhood Support group:

What you can expect from Police

 

Our vision is for New Zealand to be the safest country.

We will be there to make sure victims of hate crime and hate incidents are safe and feel safe.

We will investigate any report of hate crime, with particular attention to the hostile motivation of the offender.

As part of a hate crime investigation, we can also take a victim impact statement from you to explain how the crime has affected you. This would be voluntary and used in court proceedings.

We will use the information you provide to look for patterns and help prevent hate crime happening to other people.

 

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