The Council of PANZ wishes to express our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the Muslim community and whānau of Christchurch, and to all Muslim communities in Aotearoa New Zealand who are suffering after the March 15 terrorist attacks. To our PANZ members who have had whānau, friends, colleagues and other loved ones taken from you – he maimai aroha ki a koutou; our love, thoughts and prayers are with you.
While much commentary and critique has surfaced in recent days, now is the time to mourn and to listen to the voices of those whose lives have been devastated by the attacks.
As a professional association dedicated to the study of population in Aotearoa New Zealand, PANZ does have a role to play in confronting Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism and colonialism in this country. PANZ will shortly put out a special newsletter that will include a critique by Ian Pool of the misuse of demographic terms by white supremacists to justify a racist and extreme agenda.
As a Council, we are committed to supporting that critical dialogue between our members and with the peoples and communities of Aotearoa New Zealand moving forward.