Wellington, New Zealand – The appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as the next chief executive of Air New Zealand, a landmark moment for the nation’s Indian diaspora, has been marred by a torrent of racist online abuse, prompting major media outlets to disable comments on their social media platforms. The backlash has cast a harsh light on the challenges that ethnic minorities continue to face in New Zealand, even as they ascend to the highest echelons of corporate power.
Mr. Ravishankar, who currently serves as the airline’s chief digital officer, will succeed Greg Foran in October, becoming the first person of Indian origin to lead the national carrier. His appointment was announced as a significant step for Air New Zealand, with Board Chair Dame Therese Walsh lauding his “digital literacy, global outlook, people-leadership skills and deep care for New Zealand.”
However, the celebratory nature of the announcement was quickly overshadowed by a virulent wave of online harassment targeting Mr. Ravishankar’s ethnicity. In response to the hateful comments, prominent media organizations including the New Zealand Herald, Radio New Zealand (RNZ), and 1News took the unusual step of shutting down or heavily restricting the comments sections on their articles and social media posts about the appointment.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Herald stated, “We appreciate the high level of interest in this story but cannot safely moderate it at this time,” citing the need to “foster a safe online community by reducing instances of hate, racism, abuse and misinformation.” Similarly, RNZ explained that comments were disabled after their monitoring found a significant number of racist remarks, affirming their commitment to ensuring their online forums are a place of respect and safety.
The incident has sparked a national conversation about racism in New Zealand. It comes at a time when the country’s demographics are rapidly evolving. The 2023 New Zealand census revealed that the Indian community has grown to 292,092 people, a 22% increase since 2018, making it the third-largest ethnic group in the country, after New Zealand Europeans and Māori.
The backlash against Mr. Ravishankar’s appointment underscores a paradox: while New Zealand officially embraces multiculturalism, and the Indian diaspora has seen significant growth and success, individuals can still be targeted for their ethnicity. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the underlying racial tensions that can surface, particularly in the anonymous and often vitriolic world of social media.
Mr. Ravishankar, who was raised and educated in New Zealand, has had a distinguished career in the technology and corporate sectors, with senior roles at Vector New Zealand and Accenture. In a statement, he expressed his excitement about leading Air New Zealand, a company he described as “deeply rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
The controversy surrounding his appointment, however, highlights the ongoing struggle for genuine inclusion and acceptance for many in the diaspora, a struggle that persists even in the face of individual achievement and success. The actions of New Zealand’s media outlets have been praised by many for taking a stand against hate speech, but the incident itself has left a stain on what should have been a moment of celebration for the country’s growing diversity.
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