Claims of widespread white supremacy groups at the University of Auckland are utter nonsense according to Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon in response to media and social media comment on the activities of an alleged neo-Nazi on campus.

“We are currently dealing with two separate issues confined to one faculty and involving a small group of students, that is being conflated by social media and a naturally enhanced sensitivity following the Christchurch mosque attacks.

“There is absolutely no evidence of an increasing problem and where concerns are raised we act quickly to ensure student and staff safety.”

Professor McCutcheon said that the University took complaints very seriously and, in both instances, students were offered support and were met with even prior to formal complaints being laid.

“Of course, I am sorry that anyone feels threatened or unsafe. We do not condone any sort of harassment and we will always act.

Professor McCutcheon stressed that the University has a strong commitment to ensuring people on the campuses are safe from any form of harassment or discrimination, and anyone experiencing or witnessing it is encouraged to make a formal complaint (see the Harassment pages on the University website).

He also noted that staff had investigated reports of fascist graffiti and posters, but there had been no increase in the incidents of such material on campus and some examples shared on twitter date back at least two years.

“It is standard practice that all graffiti is removed by security as soon as they become aware of it.”

After any incident the University looks at its processes to ensure it has performed according to its own standards, he said.

“It has been widely communicated already, but we will ensure all students and staff know how to raise concerns.”