Arson spree on religious sites has led to concerns in New Zealand. According to multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation, seven churches were targeted in a suspected arson attack that occurred overnight in New Zealand on February 22, 2025. Four churches were attacked in the town of Masterton — north of the capital Wellington — and three were were attacked in other areas. Though the arson attacks, carried out by a man, have not killed anyone and there have the government’s growingly strengthened efforts for years, it remains unclear whether attacks on religious sites will end in New Zealand, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean which experiences significantly fewer religious attacks.
Attacking on religious sites is not new in New Zealand at all, though these are less there compared to many other countries. It is notable that a church property in Auckland was subjected to two arson attacks and a mosque was set on fire last year. More dangerously, 51 people were murdered at two mass shootings in mosques in Christchurch by one person, leading to shock and global outcry. Various reasons including religious intolerance, extremist ideologies and a desire to incite fear and division within communities are responsible for such attacks in New Zealand. Additionally, these attacks are fueled by a lack of understanding and respect for different faiths as well as the grievances that are wrongly associated with specific religious groups.
Hopefully saying, various steps of New Zealand, where the Bill of Rights Act 1990 affirms the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, help address the attacks on religious sites. Increased security measures of the New Zealand Police at religious places such as mosques and synagogues, the implementation of stricter gun control laws and bringing perpetrators to justice help prevent the acts of violence largely. The Jacinda Ardern government brought Brenton Tarrant, the killer of 51 people, to justice. The government’s focus on promoting interfaith dialogue and fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society also contributes to less religious antagonism in New Zealand. But due to various flaws in the steps, impacts are not as desired against such attacks.
Tributes to persons killed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019 (Photo credit: https://edition.cnn.com/).
Pertinently saying, there is a failure of providing effective response by law enforcement agencies including a slow response time to reported incidents, along with a failure to adequately address the underlying issues of religious intolerance and extremism that have left religious communities vulnerable to such attacks and highlight the need for more robust and proactive measures to protect their safety and rights in New Zealand — one of the most religiously tolerant nations globally, Notably, there are historical tensions between two different Christian sects and a new rise in anti-Muslim sentiment following the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings. Among others, there is also a lack of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and religious communities.
Addressing various reasons and the flaws of the steps is vital to address attacks on religious sites including arson attacks in New Zealand. Along with bringing the perpetrators who are responsible for such attacks to justice, it is vital to address the underlying reasons including religious intolerance to help reduce the chance of it further. But increased collaboration between law enforcement agencies and religious communities can also be helpful in addressing attacks on religious sites.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
