Hamilton defaced with swastikas, white power slogans before Holocaust Remembrance Day

Some of the swastikas sprayed at the park.
Some of the swastikas sprayed at the park. Photo credit: Jeff Howell / Twitter

Hamilton has been targeted with swastikas and white power slogans in time for Monday's Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The graffiti was found in Discovery Park by a local resident, who tweeted his anger.

"To the racist morons who did this obscenity at Discovery Park overnight - F**K OFF OUT OF MY TOWN," he wrote.

"DON'T STOP WHEN YOU REACH THE SEA."

Hamilton defaced with swastikas, white power slogans before Holocaust Remembrance Day
Photo credit: Jeff Howell / Twitter

A spokesperson for the Hamilton City Council told Newshub a graffiti removal team has been "deployed immediately" to remove the tagging.

It's the latest in what Jewish community leaders fear is a growing trend in the use of Nazi symbols, antisemitic actions and intolerance of diversity.

Two weeks ago a swastika was carved into the Hinerangi pou out at Te Ahua Point by Piha.

Then, last week, a Jewish temple in Wellington was targeted by neo-Nazi graffiti.

The footpath outside the Temple Sinai was defaced by numerous bright yellow swastikas on Wednesday. The word "Heil" was also painted nearby.

New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses says New Zealanders should be concerned by the graffiti, especially following the white supremacist attack in Christchurch last year.

"It does seem to be a growing trend and if you look at what's happening overseas in the US and the UK it's consistent with that trend," she says.

"We have seen the very real consequences of that ideology here in New Zealand."

Moses urges anyone who finds similar graffiti to report it to authorities and hopes police will look at any footage to catch who did it.

"This is not acceptable in New Zealand and does not reflect our values as a nation."

Monday's International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks 75 years since the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.

New Zealand Holocaust Centre chair Deborah Hart says the commemoration comes as the Jewish community is anxious about growing racism in New Zealand.

"This hatred is fed by old stereotypes and newer prejudices," she said in a statement.

"The lessons of the Holocaust are more important than ever. Remembering the Holocaust teaches us we must fight antisemitism, intolerance and hatred through education."