The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) issued 270 cautionary warnings to social media users over racially and ethnically offensive content between January and August 24 this year, compared with 194 during the corresponding period in 2025.
In its public update for August, the commission said its Media Monitoring Unit issued 48 warnings between July 29 and August 24, an increase from 37 during the preceding reporting period.
The latest warnings comprised 18 instances of standalone racial slurs, 12 racially prejudiced remarks, nine racially derogatory statements and four racially hateful remarks.
The unit also recorded two racially divisive statements, two xenophobic remarks and one instance of racial stereotyping.
For the year to date, standalone racial and ethnic slurs represented the largest category, with 77 warnings issued. These were followed by 58 instances of racially prejudicial or insensitive remarks, 45 cases involving racially derogatory language and 21 instances of xenophobic content.
The ERC said the increase was partly due to the expanded monitoring capacity of the unit and its more systematic coverage of digital platforms.
It nevertheless expressed concern about the continued presence of ethnically abusive content online, reminding the public that conduct in the digital space should be governed by the same standards of decency and respect expected elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the commission’s Investigative Unit has a consolidated caseload of 87 matters, including three dating from 2022 and 2023, 14 from 2024, 49 from 2025 and 21 recorded so far this year. One new matter was received during the reporting period.
According to the ERC, 51 matters have been closed, seven completed and three withdrawn. Nine are awaiting review by its Investigative Sub-Committee, eight are under active investigation and five are awaiting legal advice.
One matter has completed the conciliation process, while another is awaiting a statutory decision.
The commission urged persons who experience or witness ethnic discrimination, hate speech or conduct likely to promote ethnic hostility to report it at its Queenstown office, by telephone on 231-6265 or 231-6281, or by email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
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