Local body ticket drops Jewish candidate due to threats

Karin Horen is standing for the Takapuna Local Board. As you can see she was on the “A fresh approach” ticket.

But they have dropped her suddenly.

Why?

Because Karin is Jewish. She was born in Israel and like all Israeli citizens served in her youth in the IDF, over 30 years ago. She has lived in New Zealand since 2009 and is incredibly active in the community. She is a breast cancer survivor, having had it twice. She has kids who have Maori, English and Jewish heritage. She has set up charities. She is an author. She teaches resilience.

But she has been dumped from her ticket. Because she is Jewish. Because like 95% of Jews she is a Zionist (that simply means she supports the existence of Israel as a Jewish state).

A member of her local body team explains why they dumped her:

This afternoon I had a meeting with a senior advisor at the Auckland Council. The security team at the council have significant safety concerns for myself, as well as you and other candidates due to the ‘free Palestine’ groups. These groups are internationally funded and have radical members due to the high emotive topic and have lost their rationality. They are focused on targeting their actions on specific people and events, and are highly unpredictable. They have monitored a lot of ‘chatter’ on their networks about you and upcoming events. I have also had a call with Mel, who has had a similar conversation with Auckland Council security.

They have recommended that I be extra vigilant when walking around the streets. They have asked to pass this on to you, too to be extra vigilant and to keep yourself safe. This news today has been very upsetting to our family members. 

They are particularly concerned with your attendance at the two upcoming meet the candidates events – The Rose Centre on Sunday and Milford on Tuesday. Additional security measures will need to be put in place if you attend. They asked if you can please advise the venues ASAP if you are attending. Our advice continues to be that you don’t attend. 

These heightened safety concerns are on top of recent vandalism of our signs outside a members business and a huge amount of negative emails and messages, and damage to personal and political relationships over the last few weeks.

Due to these reasons, and the need to keep myself, my family and others safe from these groups, unfortunately, the A Fresh Approach Team will no longer be able to be associated with yourself running for local board. I also request that you remove all ‘A Fresh Approach’ branding from your social media/advertising immediately.

We have met with Kimberly and Lewis about this change and we will also meet with Scott and Karleen when possible as they are overseas.

This is our worst-case scenario, but unfortunately, today’s information has dramatically changed the way forward. This is now more than the election; our safety has been compromised. 

I also want to acknowledge how upsetting this is. It’s upsetting for all of us, but I can only imagine how it must feel for you. At the end of the day, this is low-level politics and a lowly paid role, and the safety of ourselves and our families is the most important thing.

We recommend you develop a plan to ensure yourself and your family are safe and have a plan to engage with Police if anything occurs. 

Is this the New Zealand we want? Is this what it has come to? That a Jewish New Zealander faces so many threats that her own ticket dump her for their own safety?

I’m disgusted – with those making the threats, and with her team dumping her in the face of them. Think what a message this sends to Jewish New Zealanders – you are not safe, you are not welcome.

The war in Gaza is terrible. Reasonable people can disagree on how to end it. It has nothing to do with the Takapuna Local Board.

Would we run an intimidation campaign against a Chinese New Zealander because we dislike what the Chinese Government has done to the Uyghurs? Would we run an intimidation campaign against a Muslim New Zealander from Turkey because we dislike what Turkey has done to the Kurds? No.

This is simply shameful.