Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is facing mounting backlash after referring to an RNZ staff member of Indian descent as a “Muslim terrorist” during a visit to the broadcaster’s Auckland offices, an incident that has drawn condemnation from community leaders and renewed debate about race and rhetoric in public life.
The exchange occurred on Monday as the mayor arrived at Radio New Zealand for an appearance on its Afternoons programme.
According to RNZ, the staff member greeted Brown and apologised for a delay, noting that security in the building was tight.
“The Mayor responded with a comment along the lines of ‘security can’t be very tight if we’re being escorted by a Muslim terrorist’,” an RNZ spokesperson said.
Brown also reportedly remarked on the man’s appearance, saying “gosh, look at your beard”.
The staff member, who has not been named, said he was shocked and hurt. “I agree with the Mayor that his comments were inappropriate and disrespectful,” he said, adding he hoped the incident would prompt reflection on “the danger of racial and religious stereotyping, especially by those in positions of leadership”.
RNZ chief people officer Sarah Neilson described the comments as unacceptable. “Our immediate concern is for our colleague who was understandably hurt,” she said.
“At our workplace we want people to be treated with respect, including by our guests.”
Brown later apologised in an email, calling the remark a “fumbled attempt at humour” and accepting full responsibility.
“I understand that my words were disrespectful, and I regret the harm they caused.”
However, the apology drew further scrutiny after the mayor referenced respect for the Sikh community, despite the staff member not being Sikh. Brown later said he had been mistakenly told this by staff.
In a subsequent statement, Brown said he often used humour in interactions but acknowledged he “got this one wrong”, adding he remained committed to representing all Aucklanders.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from New Zealand’s Indian community, with leaders warning of a troubling shift in public discourse.
Pancha Narayan described the remark as racist, arguing it exposed gaps in how hate speech is addressed.
“You can’t say it and then retract it as a joke.”
Daljit Singh said the comment was “unbelievable”, adding it was unsettling for communities that value New Zealand’s multicultural harmony.
Jaspreet Kandhari said he was shocked, noting Brown’s popularity within the community made the remarks “very unfortunate”.
Others warned that such comments risk normalising harmful rhetoric. Himanshu Parmar said dismissing such language as humour contributed to a broader shift in tone among public figures.
“The tone matters.”
The controversy comes amid a series of incidents that have raised concerns among ethnic communities, including racist graffiti in parts of Auckland and recent political remarks about immigration that have also drawn criticism.
Community leaders say the episode underscores the responsibility of those in leadership to use language carefully in a multicultural society where nearly one in three Auckland residents were born overseas.
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