A woman has been arrested after video emerged showing a racist, expletive-laden attack on a group of Muslim women in Huntly.
The 27-year-old is due to face charges of assault, assault with a weapon and offensive language in court on Monday.
"After being provided with video evidence, staff have acted quickly to make an arrest," says Inspector Naila Hassan, Waikato West Area Commander.
"Police do not condone threatening behaviour. Complaints such as these will always be thoroughly investigated by police, and victims should not hesitate to report incidents to us."
There's been an outpouring of public support on social media for the group of women.
But a university professor is warning similar attacks are likely to continue, in the wake of Donald Trump's election success in the US.
The women were returning to Auckland from a road trip when a stranger launched a tirade of verbal abuse, threw a can of beer at the women and attempted to punch them.
The group were sworn at, told they "don't belong here" and were called "f***ing Muslim bitches".
Part of the attack was videoed by Mehpara Khan on her cell phone. She posted the video online before handing it over and giving a statement to police.
Response online has been largely supportive of the women who were attacked, with many expressing shock that the incident happened at all.
Kay Kunoichi told Newshub the incident is "horrible".
"It blows my mind that people like that exist. Sending love to Mehpara. If you find yourself looking at Muslims or anyone else and feeling like you're higher than them or are of more value then check yourself!" she wrote on Facebook.
Others said they've experienced similar attacks in the past.
"The scars linger on for the rest of the life", wrote one user. "We all have our similar stories," another responded.
Another Facebook user said they were concerned New Zealand is becoming the "new America".
"Hating on Muslims, yet cheer one on when Sonny Bill's scoring tries for the All Blacks," he wrote.
The Islamic Council said it is "very disappointing but not surprising" to see the attack on the women.
"Muslim women are often the ones who bear the brunt of attacks by strangers in public places," it said in a statement.
The Islamic Council urged other women to follow Ms Kahn's example and report instances of harassment and abuse to the council or Human Rights Commission and police, where appropriate.
Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson has also condemned the abuse.
"After viewing the incident outside the rest area in Huntly north, which is a very popular comfort stop for travellers, it disappoints and disgusts me that the person who was attacked had to endure such verbal abuse.
"There is no place in our society for this sort of xenophobic behaviour at all."
Trump exposes racist underbelly - professor
Despite the outpouring of support for Ms Khan and her friends, one professor is warning that New Zealand has an underbelly of racism that has been bolstered by President Donald Trump's election.
The Huntly incident comes after a small group of Trump supporters in Auckland threatened Indian students taking refuge in an Auckland church. The students are facing deportation after being scammed into using fraudulent visas by Indian education agents.
Dr Paul Spoonley, Massey University's pro vice-chancellor of humanities and social sciences, told Newshub that Mr Trump is giving voice to people who feel uncomfortable about multiculturalism.
"Being a white supremacist in New Zealand is rather a lonely existence, so anybody who gives authority and support to any of their views is seen as a positive - and they feel that they have some kind of authority, then, to do something similar in New Zealand by acting out those views. In this case, by being explicitly racist."
Dr Spoonley said the effect of Mr Trump's election can be seen right across the spectrum on issues of race and immigration - not just in extremist groups.
"There is a whole group of people who feel over the last decade things that have been moving toward a much more multicultural situation in various parts of the world, and this is a big push-back.
"I would think that the bulk of New Zealanders are sitting there, looking at their television screens or listening the radio and thinking, 'What the hell is going on?'
"But obviously there are a group of people who are thinking, 'This is my moment... He speaks for me. I don't like multi-culturalism. I don't like immigration.' Trump is giving voice to those views, and that's just as likely to occur in New Zealand as elsewhere.'"
Dr Spoonley said there are always extreme right-wing groups in New Zealand, but many people don't realise it because they are not featured in the media.
"This is one of those moments when those guys are vindicated and they want to have their say."
Newshub.
