https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Rainbow

Chief Human Rights Commissioner
Appointment
In August 2024, he was appointed to be New Zealand's Chief Human Rights Commissioner from November 2024 by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.[15] Left-wing blogger Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury and The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman criticised Rainbow's appointment, citing his alleged transphobic and pro-Israel views.[16][17] In mid-October 2024, Chapman reported that the independent panel set up to shortlist and interview candidates for the role did not recommend Rainbow. Goldsmith had pressed for Rainbow's appointment as Chief Human Rights Commissioner.[18] In December 2025 the High Court found that the Minister's appointment of Rainbow was "unlawful" but did not overturn this appointment.[19]

Genocide hotline
In late January 2025, Rainbow as Chief Human Rights Commissioner condemned a "genocide hotline" established by Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa national chairman John Minto, stating "the promotion may not be unlawful, however, the chief commissioner sees it as potentially harmful to Israeli and Jewish people in Aotearoa New Zealand."[20] He called on the organisers to stop operating and promoting the hotline.[21] According to Rainbow, the Human Rights Commission had received 90 complaints about the PSNA's "genocide hotline."[20]

2025 Islamophobia controversy
In early April 2025, Radio New Zealand and The Spinoff reported that Rainbow had claimed that a 2024 NZSIS threat assessment showed that Muslims posed a greater threat to the New Zealand Jewish community than White supremacists during a meeting with race relations commissioner Melissa Derby, two Human Rights Commission staff and Philippa Yasbek, the spokesperson for Alternative Jewish Voices and Dayenu: Jews Against Occupation on 24 February. Yasbek had met with the Human Rights Commission to discuss the Jewish community and race relations in New Zealand. Yasbek disagreed with Rainbow's remarks, contending that White supremacists posed a threat to both the Jewish and Muslim communities. She also argued that anti-Zionism should not be conflated with antisemitism, and argued that "racism is best fought by uniting with other groups experiencing racism, rather than arguing that Jews are exceptional in comparison to other ethnic or religious groups." Yasbek filed a complaint with Justice Minister Goldsmith, questioning Rainbow's suitability for the role of Chief Human Rights Commissioner and accusing him of Islamophobia.[22][23]

The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) called Rainbow's comments "an alarming warning bell for human rights in this country."[23][22] Following a meeting with FIANZ spokesperson Abdur Razzaq, Rainbow issued a personal apology.[22] The NZSIS' director Andrew Hampton told The Spinoff that Rainbow had misrepresented the NZSIS' threat assessment and clarified that the report never stated that Muslims posed a greater threat to the Jewish community than White supremacists.[22] In response to media coverage, Goldsmith confirmed that he would be meeting with Rainbow to advise him to "be more careful with his words." However, he refused to relieve Rainbow of his position and expressed confidence in his role as Chief Human Rights Commissioner.[23][22]

Views and positions
Alleged transphobia
In 2021 Rainbow was criticised for social media posts seen as transphobic.[24] The comments were made regarding a petition to ban conversion therapy. Rainbow denied he was transphobic.[25]

Antisemitism and the left
In January 2024, Rainbow penned a column on the website of the pro-Israel advocacy group "Israel Institute of New Zealand" (IINZ) about Israel–New Zealand relations. He suggested that the keffiyeh-wearing antics of some Labour and Green MPs showed that being "anti-Israel has become an integral part of the Leftist creed." Rainbow also wrote:

The Left has found a new underdog to replace the Jews -the Palestinians- in spite of the fact that the treatment of gay people, women, and political opponents wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.[22]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Rainbow