Anti-Asian group looking to grow in Mid Canterbury

By Sue Newman May 13 2011

Ashburton is home to a small cell of extreme right-wing political activists who are determined to stop mass Asian immigration into New Zealand.

That's according to Kyle Chapman, leader of the Christchurch-based Right Wing Resistance (RWR). It counts its members in growing numbers, says leader Kyle Chapman. Some of those members are Ashburton people, either living here or now living in Christchurch. They're all committed to identifying new recruits in their community.
Those members regularly drop promotional flyers in letterboxes around town and contrary to what people might think, smaller communities are fertile ground for recruitment, he said.
"Country communities are the ones we find to be very active with members. We have a whole South Canterbury chapter that includes Ashburton.
"In areas like that it's often people who've been involved in right wing activities in the past who become our supporters."
Mr Chapman wouldn't be drawn on the size of his organisation.
"We don't talk about numbers. That's a tactical thing because we believe one day we could face conflict with an invading force."
His group is not a political party, but it is a political activist organisation, one that in two years had grown significantly. Members ranged from professional people to the unemployed and many had some kind of military background. Almost all are white and of European descent, but some are part Maori, he said.
That might seem at odds with the organisation's philosophy, but Mr Chapman said he's all for a bi-cultural society.
It's a society that is over-run by one ethnic group that he's opposed to. Right now that's the Asian community.
And communists.
Only the seriously committed need apply to be members of RWR. It costs a basic $5 a week to be a member, but if you choose to join and hide your identity, then the weekly fee rises. Mr Chapman wants members who are prepared to stand up and be recognised, who are okay with being part of a public rally. People whose belief in retaining the "Europeanness" of New Zealand is so strong they won't care who knows it.
Member funds will be used to buy land that will eventually become a base for the organisation.
This will be where members will train in survival techniques, martial arts and a range of other quasi-military activities.
Yes, the organisation presents a hostile face, yes there are members who were white supremisists but Mr Chapman says he is not one.
"We're a white nationalist organisation and I believe I'm quite a rational person."
Anyone can join – providing they are prepared to do what the organisation requires.
What that is, he's not saying, but you have to be pretty serious about the beliefs to sign up, he said.
Currently the RWR has been condemned as anti-Asian. That's true – in part, Mr Chapman said.
"If we had 2000 or 3000 Russians coming in to the country, it would be the same problem. We don't, it's Asians we're being swamped by. It's whatever group that's here in large numbers that is a problem. It's not about race, it's about numbers."
Mr Chapman said his organisation's beliefs, philosophies and actions are often misunderstood, misinterpreted.

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