Matua Kahurangi
Matua Kahurangi, unapologetically provocative, is infamous for his incendiary writings that challenge societal taboos and stir relentless debate.
New Zealand woke up to deeply unsettling news this year. A young German backpacker, visiting our country over the New Year holiday, was allegedly gang raped after being picked up on Karangahape Rd in the early hours of 1 January. Three men, two aged 19 and one 21, have been jointly charged with sexual violation. The case has sparked national outrage, but what is even more concerning are the serious questions it raises about our asylum and immigration processes.
Reports circulating widely on X claim that the three accused are asylum seekers. While this has yet to be officially confirmed, the conversation has already turned sharply toward a glaring loophole in our immigration system. It is one that many New Zealanders weren’t even aware of.
Currently, anyone who enters New Zealand on a visitor visa can immediately apply for asylum. Once that application is made, they are eligible for housing, legal aid, and financial support, all funded by the New Zealand taxpayer, until their case is heard. That process can take months or even years. In the meantime, they live freely in the community.
And now we are faced with an allegation that a tourist, a visitor to our country, was brutally assaulted by individuals who may be benefiting from that very system.
According to mainsteam media, the young woman was picked up in a van, allegedly forced into the vehicle, sexually violated, and then left outside her hostel. The police have confirmed they have been investigating since 1 January, and the charges are now before the Auckland District Court. If convicted, the men face up to 20 years in prison.
This is not just about one horrific incident, though that alone should be enough to spark national reflection. This is about a wider system that may be enabling harm while shielding individuals from scrutiny. The online comparisons to the UK’s grooming gang scandals might seem extreme to some, but for many New Zealanders, they represent a warning we would be foolish to ignore.
New Zealand has long prided itself on being a compassionate nation. We open our doors to those fleeing persecution. That is something we should be proud of. But compassion must be balanced with caution, with due diligence, and with accountability.
We need to ask hard questions:
- Why are we allowing people to apply for asylum the moment they step off a plane on a visitor visa?
- What checks are being done on these individuals while they await their hearing?
- And most importantly, how are we protecting the safety of New Zealanders and visitors alike?
The alleged rape of this young woman is devastating. Her story deserves more than just legal process. It demands a policy reckoning. We cannot let our asylum system be exploited, nor can we afford to turn a blind eye when that system potentially puts innocent people in harm’s way.
Yes, everyone deserves a fair trial. But New Zealanders also deserve a fair and safe society. The balance is off, and it is time to fix it.
This article was originally published on the author’s Substack.
