‘Dog whistle’: Postman refuses to deliver political pamphlet

Wellington postmen have refused to deliver pamphlets containing misinformation about the council and Islamic prayers, but the leaflets could arrive in mailboxes today.

The reports, written by political campaign group A Better Wellington, included allegations of wasteful spending by the council, citywide speed limits and the assertion that the council “wanted the city’s six mosques to broadcast the sound of Islamic prayers across the city”.

Postal Workers Union co-president John Maynard said he visited three Wellington post offices on Monday morning and postmen told him they were reluctant to deliver the pamphlets.

He said it would damage community relations and go against New Zealand Post’s mission “to be a socially responsible organisation”.

The booklet was due to be sent to 80,000 homes but he understands no household received it on Monday and the issue was escalated to New Zealand Post management.

“It would be inappropriate for New Zealand Post to act as a censor and decide what to send and what not to send,” New Zealand Post said in a statement.

Maynard disagrees.

“Accepting flyers from just anyone is not fulfilling social responsibility,” he said.

“We are aware of what happened at the Christchurch mosque. People are very sensitive about Islamophobia and this incident is like a veiled warning to us about Islamophobia.”

Wellington City councillor Rebecca Matthews said the claims in the pamphlet were likely a reference to recent changes to the area’s plan, which sought to change the rules to allow mosques to use loudspeakers to broadcast calls to prayer on special occasions.

“Currently, mosques in Wellington can never broadcast the call to prayer,” she said.

“My understanding is that the community is considering doing a few short broadcasts a year at times that don’t disrupt social interaction.”

She said the pamphlet was clearly intended to anger people and was partly fuelled by Islamophobia.

“There are a lot of things to check and if I got this in my mailbox I would be very skeptical of it.”

In a statement, the council said it had asked staff to clarify area planning rules relating to prayer.

“Police were not asked to investigate daily prayers, but rather the rules relating to specific events, such as future commemorations of the Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15, 2019.

“Officials will report back next month.”