HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
The United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.
New Zealand Holocaust Centre chairwoman Deborah Hart said for the first time Dunedin will take part in commemorations organised by the centre.
The genocide of six million Jews carried out by Nazi Germany and its allies was a Judeicide defined by ideology, law, propaganda, actions and extermination techniques, she said.
"So we remember and bear witness to that event to help to ensure that such things cannot happen ever again."
A survey undertaken by the centre and released last year showed out of just over 1000 New Zealanders surveyed not even half — only 42% — could correctly identify six million Jewish people were killed in the Holocaust.
"Seventeen percent said they knew virtually nothing about it, and the really disturbing figure was 6% thought the Jews had bought the Holocaust on themselves."
It was important to remember and teach people about the Holocaust because anti-Semitism was often an indicator of more widespread racism, Ms Hart said.
"A society that tolerates anti-Semitism will soon accept other forms of racism."
This year is the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, which in 1943 saw young Jews fight back against the Nazis despite the risks to themselves. This was the theme of this year’s events taking place in Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.
For security reasons the venue will not be identified but people can email dunedin@holocaustcentre.org.nz for details.
