Back in April we wrote about the Japanese student who was attacked in Christchurch

“…The assault, which took place on Lincoln Road late Sunday night, was perpetrated by two people who made allegedly racist remarks to the young woman. They then tried to set their two dogs on her. Fortunately a passer-by came to her aid and serious injury was avoided, she suffered light scratches for which she received hospital attention.

According to a news report a 25 year old male and an 18 year old female were arrested and bailed in connection with the attack, their dogs have been seized…”

A second person has just appeared in court and has pleaded not guilty to three charges of using a dog as a weapon.

An 18-year-old woman is denying setting her three dogs on a Japanese woman.

Defence counsel Angela Grant indicated Phillipa Ann Parker would plead not guilty to three charges of using a dog as a weapon when she appeared at a hearing of Christchurch District Court today.

Judge David Saunders remanded Parker on bail to August 1 for a status hearing.

Her alleged co-offender, Steven Donaldson, 25, pleaded not guilty to similar charges a month ago and was remanded on bail for a status hearing on July 4… source

We’ve often written about racist attacks in New Zealand, a good many of which seem to occur in Christchurch, and the way in which the country markets itself as a safe destination for the lucrative  international student market.

We’ll be watching for the outcome of these two cases, as will the Asian community in Christchurch.

You may also be interested in our other blogs:

Japanese students attacked at Christchurch bus stop (February 2010)

There’s a report in today’s The Press, detailed on Stuff.co.nz telling the shocking story of how two Asian students were subjected to aggression and an unprovoked attack by a gang of skinheads in Christchurch (watch the video report here)

Two Asian students, said to be Japanese nationals, were sitting at the bus stop outside of The Palms shopping mall in Christchurch yesterday evening at 6.30pm when a group of 4 skinheads approached them. A witness saw the group of 4 males, all shirtless and wearing camouflage gear, walk up to the 2 students…more

Racist street attacks in Christchurch (August 2010)

“Cantebury’s Star newspaper is reporting today on two racist street attacks that have taken place in Christchurch in the past few days.

The first incident involved a young mother and her children as she was putting them in her car and the second a man who was beaten by a skinhead as he left a bottle store…”more

Everyday race hate ‘rife’ in Christchurch (September 2009)

“An attack on a Thai girl, who was beaten up by fellow pupils on a bus, is part of everyday “race hate” in Christchurch, a homestay parent says.
Paul Stratford said the Avonside Girls’ High School pupil arrived at his house distressed and covered in blood after being beaten up on the bus after school on Monday…more

The abuse of international students (April 2010)

“…with students being worth so much you’d think they’d be well looked after in New Zealand wouldn’t you and that they’d return home with glowing accounts of their wonderful sojourn, encouraging family and friends to emigrate or holiday in New Zealand. You may be disturbed to hear that for many students the reality is very different.

The message was left by Annie who responded to our blog post “New Zealand is turning into a really racist country.” She worked with international students in New Zealand and was deeply ashamed by the treatment they received:

“I worked with international students a few years ago and some of the experiences of my students really opened my eyes to an underbelly of New Zealand society I had never encountered. Quite frankly, it made me deeply ashamed.

There were the stories of random attacks on teenage boys for no other reason than they were Asian, or on teenage girls being elbowed, bullied, shouted out, sexually assaulted and told to go home, get off the bus, there’s the airport etc and those were just some of them…”more

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