{{Short description|New Zealand politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Stephen Rainbow | image = Stephen Rainbow, 1990.jpg | alt = | caption = Rainbow in 1990 | office = Chief Human Rights Commissioner | predecessor = Paul Hunt | successor = | term_start = 11 November 2024 | office2 = Member of the Wellington City Council for Southern Ward | term_start2 = 14 October 1995 | term_end2 = 10 October 1998 | alongside2 = Celia Wade-Brown, Sue Piper, John Gilberthorpe | predecessor2 = Peter Parussini | successor2 = Alick Shaw | office3 = Member of the Wellington City Council for Lambton Ward | term_start3 = 14 October 1989 | term_end3 = 14 October 1995 | alongside3 = Terry McDavitt, Russell Armitage, Rex Nicholls, Liz Thomas | predecessor3 = Margaret Bonner | successor3 = ''Ward abolished'' | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|01|26}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | party = Labour Party (1977–84)<br />Green Party (1989–95)<br />Progressive Green (1995–99)<br />National (1999) | alma_mater = Victoria University of Wellington | profession = }}
'''Stephen Laurence Rainbow''' (born 26 January 1961) is a New Zealand public servant and former local-body politician.
==Early life== Stephen Rainbow was born in Christchurch in 1961. He grew up on a tobacco farm south of Nelson and was educated in Richmond at Waimea College.<ref name="green">{{cite news |author=Naylor, Shani |work =The Evening Post |title=Green's a Good Colour for Steve Rainbow |date=8 January 1990 }}</ref> Later he attended Victoria University of Wellington from 1982 and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts, and in 1991 with a PhD in Political Science.{{sfn|Taylor|1998|pp=613}}
Rainbow and his partner Anna Frusin (who was born in the Soviet Union) had three children together; Alexandra, Larissa and Solomon.{{sfn|Taylor|1998|pp=613}}
==Political career== Rainbow became politically active in the 1970s joining the Labour Party and served on Labour's New Zealand Council.{{sfn|Taylor|1998|pp=613}} In 1983 he contested the Labour nomination to replace retiring party leader Bill Rowling in the Tasman seat, but lost to Ken Shirley.<ref name="green"/><ref>{{cite news|work=The Press |page=2 |title=Labour contender for Tasman |date=15 August 1983 }}</ref> He did not renew his membership in 1984 and later joined the newly formed Green Party and stood for election in 1989 for the Wellington City Council on a Green ticket. He was successful and became the country's first Green councillor.<ref name="Green Rainbow">{{cite news |author=Zatorski, Lidia |title=Green Rainbow could be on Blues party list |newspaper=The Evening Post |date=7 April 1999 |page=3 }}</ref> The next year he contested the seat of Wellington Central for the Greens at the {{NZ election link year|1990}} general election, finishing third out of seven candidates.<ref>{{cite tech report |ref={{sfnref|Election results|1990}} |title=Part 1: Votes recorded at each polling place |publisher=New Zealand Chief Electoral Office |year=1990 }}</ref> Rainbow was opposed to the Green Party's decision to join the Alliance and declined to stand for them in the seat at the 1992 Wellington Central by-election. There were rumours that Rainbow would instead be approached by Labour (which he was formerly a member of) to stand for them. A Labour official downplayed the rumour but did not rule out the possibility. Rainbow himself said he had no official approach from Labour and stated in any event he wished to concentrate on his role as a Wellington City Councillor.<ref name="Rainbow">{{cite news |first=Brent |last=Edwards |title=Rainbow tipped as Labour possibility |work=The Evening Post |date=13 October 1992 |page=3 }}</ref>
Rainbow was re-elected to the Wellington City Council in 1992 and 1995. On both occasions he also stood for Mayor without success, finishing fourth in 1992 and seventh in 1995.<ref>{{cite report |last=Bly |first=Ross |date=1992 |title=City of Wellington: Local Body Elections, 1992 |publisher=Wellington City Council }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Evening Post |page=14 |title=How You Voted |date=9 October 1995 }}</ref>
By 1994 Rainbow was a leading voice of the opposition to the Green Party's membership of the Alliance, a broad left-wing coalition, thinking the Alliance's emphasis on social justice type issues detracted focus from environmental issues.<ref name="New Party">{{cite news |author= Scherer, Karyn |title=Dissident Greens may form new party |newspaper=The Evening Post |date=3 May 1994 }}</ref><ref name="Breakaway">{{cite news |author= Edwards, Brent |title=Breakaway party no threat, says Alliance leader |newspaper=The Evening Post |date=16 May 1994 }}</ref> In 1995 Rainbow co-founded the Progressive Green Party, a "Bluegreen" environmentalist party with a more right-wing emphasis.
In 1998 Rainbow decided not to seek re-election. By that time the Progressive Greens had disbanded and most members had joined the "Bluegreen" wing of the National Party, including Rainbow. At the {{NZ election link year|1999}} general election, he stood as a list only candidate for National, ranked 51st. With a relatively low ranking he was not allocated a seat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1999/e9/html/e9_partIII_1.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=9 March 2017}}</ref>
==Other activities== In the 2010s Rainbow was the manager of Auckland Transport's key relationships unit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/rail-link-property-owners-being-sounded-out/IF2NLVK55NK6G73HG73YFDU4MY/ |title=Rail-link property owners being sounded out|date=12 July 2012 |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=17 February 2021 }}</ref>
Rainbow is also a gay rights activist. He served as Chairman of Auckland-based phone support and LGBT advocacy service OUTLine and also a board member of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_11923.php |title=Stephen Rainbow becomes new OUTLine Chair |date=26 June 2012 |website=GayNZ.com |access-date=22 June 2017 }}</ref> He campaigned for same sex marriage reform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/stephen-rainbow-anti-gay-diatribe-just-as-hurtful/K7KAJZYUEEYO2KIEO3RITK4NEA/ |title=Stephen Rainbow: Anti gay diatribe just as hurtful |date=22 February 2013 |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=17 February 2021 }}</ref>
==Chief Human Rights Commissioner== ===Appointment=== In August 2024, he was appointed to be New Zealand's Chief Human Rights Commissioner from November 2024 by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.<ref>{{cite news |title=New leadership announced for Human Rights Commission |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525363/new-leadership-announced-for-human-rights-commission |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=RNZ |date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817062121/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525363/new-leadership-announced-for-human-rights-commission |archive-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> Left-wing blogger Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury and ''The Spinoff'' editor Madeleine Chapman criticised Rainbow's appointment, citing his alleged transphobic and pro-Israel views.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradbury |first1=Martyn |title=Installing Israeli Apologist and Free Speech Stormtrooper onto Human Rights Commission undermines our collective human rights mana |url=https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/08/19/installing-israeli-apologist-and-free-speech-stormtrooper-onto-human-rights-commission-undermines-our-collective-human-rights-mana/ |website=The Daily Blog |access-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819020659/https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/08/19/installing-israeli-apologist-and-free-speech-stormtrooper-onto-human-rights-commission-undermines-our-collective-human-rights-mana/ |archive-date=19 August 2024 |date=19 August 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Madeleine |title=Can you be a human rights commissioner and transphobic at the same time? |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/17-08-2024/can-you-be-a-human-rights-commissioner-and-transphobic-at-the-same-time |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=The Spinoff |date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816214700/https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/17-08-2024/can-you-be-a-human-rights-commissioner-and-transphobic-at-the-same-time |archive-date=16 August 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-October 2024, Chapman reported that the independent panel set up to shortlist and interview candidates for the role did not recommend Rainbow. Goldsmith had pressed for Rainbow's appointment as Chief Human Rights Commissioner.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/14-10-2024/controversial-human-rights-commissioners-werent-recommended-by-hiring-panel |title=Controversial human rights commissioners weren't recommended by hiring panel |date=14 October 2024 |work=The Spinoff |first=Madeleine |last=Chapman}}</ref> In December 2025 the High Court found that the Minister's appointment of Rainbow was "unlawful" but did not overturn this appointment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Henry |date=18 December 2025 |title=High Court finds justice minister's appointment of two commissioners unlawful |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360919324/high-court-finds-justice-ministers-appointment-two-commissioners-unlawful |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 December 2025 |website=www.thepost.co.nz}}</ref>
===Genocide hotline=== In late January 2025, Rainbow as Chief Human Rights Commissioner condemned a "genocide hotline" established by Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa national chairman John Minto, stating "the promotion may not be unlawful, however, the chief commissioner sees it as potentially harmful to Israeli and Jewish people in Aotearoa New Zealand."<ref name="NZH 29 Jan 2025">{{cite news |title=Jewish groups slam hotline for reporting Israeli soldiers holidaying in New Zealand |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jewish-groups-slam-hotline-for-reporting-israeli-soldiers-holidaying-in-new-zealand/EZPNFCSH6BHQPB66JQ7PFPHSVA/ |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=28 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128100658/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/jewish-groups-slam-hotline-for-reporting-israeli-soldiers-holidaying-in-new-zealand/EZPNFCSH6BHQPB66JQ7PFPHSVA/ |archive-date=28 January 2025}}</ref> He called on the organisers to stop operating and promoting the hotline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Truebridge |first1=Nick |title=Promotion of 'Genocide hotline' must end, says top Human Rights Commissioner |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360561745/genocide-hotline-posted-activist-john-minto-prompts-jewish-council-backlash |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=Stuff |date=28 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129004436/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360561745/genocide-hotline-posted-activist-john-minto-prompts-jewish-council-backlash |archive-date=29 January 2025}}</ref> According to Rainbow, the Human Rights Commission had received 90 complaints about the PSNA's "genocide hotline."<ref name="NZH 29 Jan 2025" />
===2025 Islamophobia controversy=== In early April 2025, Radio New Zealand and ''The Spinoff'' reported that Rainbow had claimed that a 2024 NZSIS threat assessment showed that Muslims posed a greater threat to the New Zealand Jewish community than White supremacists during a meeting with race relations commissioner Melissa Derby, two Human Rights Commission staff and Philippa Yasbek, the spokesperson for Alternative Jewish Voices and Dayenu: Jews Against Occupation on 24 February. Yasbek had met with the Human Rights Commission to discuss the Jewish community and race relations in New Zealand. Yasbek disagreed with Rainbow's remarks, contending that White supremacists posed a threat to both the Jewish and Muslim communities. She also argued that anti-Zionism should not be conflated with antisemitism, and argued that "racism is best fought by uniting with other groups experiencing racism, rather than arguing that Jews are exceptional in comparison to other ethnic or religious groups." Yasbek filed a complaint with Justice Minister Goldsmith, questioning Rainbow's suitability for the role of Chief Human Rights Commissioner and accusing him of Islamophobia.<ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025">{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Madeleine |title=Chief human rights commissioner accused of Islamophobia by Jewish groups |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/02-04-2025/chief-human-rights-commissioner-accused-of-islamophobia-by-jewish-groups |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=The Spinoff |date=2 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404000439/https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/02-04-2025/chief-human-rights-commissioner-accused-of-islamophobia-by-jewish-groups |archive-date=4 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="RNZ 2 Apr 2025">{{cite news |title=Chief Human Rights Commissioner apologises to Muslim community |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556990/chief-human-rights-commissioner-apologises-to-muslim-community |access-date=4 April 2025 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=2 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404000229/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/556990/chief-human-rights-commissioner-apologises-to-muslim-community |archive-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) called Rainbow's comments "an alarming warning bell for human rights in this country."<ref name="RNZ 2 Apr 2025" /><ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025" /> Following a meeting with FIANZ spokesperson Abdur Razzaq, Rainbow issued a personal apology.<ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025" /> The NZSIS' director Andrew Hampton told ''The Spinoff'' that Rainbow had misrepresented the NZSIS' threat assessment and clarified that the report never stated that Muslims posed a greater threat to the Jewish community than White supremacists.<ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025" /> In response to media coverage, Goldsmith confirmed that he would be meeting with Rainbow to advise him to "be more careful with his words." However, he refused to relieve Rainbow of his position and expressed confidence in his role as Chief Human Rights Commissioner.<ref name="RNZ 2 Apr 2025" /><ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025" />
==Views and positions== ===Alleged transphobia=== In 2021 Rainbow was criticised for social media posts seen as transphobic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124268954/auckland-transport-investigating-managers-facebook-post-about-gay-conversion-therapy |title=Auckland Transport investigating manager's Facebook post about gay conversion therapy |date=17 February 2021 |website=Stuff |access-date=17 February 2021 }}</ref> The comments were made regarding a petition to ban conversion therapy. Rainbow denied he was transphobic.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Glenn |last1=McConnell |first2=Emma |last2=Stanford |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350382679/new-human-rights-chief-says-comments-trans-agenda-and-israel-gaza-war-wont-be |title=New human rights chief says comments on 'trans agenda' and Israel-Gaza war won't be an issue |date=19 August 2024 |website=Stuff |access-date=19 August 2024 }}</ref>
===Antisemitism and the left=== In January 2024, Rainbow penned a column on the website of the pro-Israel advocacy group "Israel Institute of New Zealand" (IINZ) about Israel–New Zealand relations. He suggested that the keffiyeh-wearing antics of some Labour and Green MPs showed that being "anti-Israel has become an integral part of the Leftist creed." Rainbow also wrote: {{Blockquote|The Left has found a new underdog to replace the Jews -the Palestinians- in spite of the fact that the treatment of gay people, women, and political opponents wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.<ref name="Spinoff 2 Apr 2025" />}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|30em}}
==References== *{{cite book |title=New Zealand Who's Who, 1998 edition |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alister |year=1998 |location=Auckland |issn=1172-9813 }}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef | before=Margaret Bonner}} {{s-ttl | title=Wellington City Councillor for Lambton Ward | years=1989–1995 | alongside = }} {{s-non|reason=Ward abolished}} {{s-bef | before=Peter Parussini }} {{s-ttl | title=Wellington City Councillor for Southern Ward | years=1995–1998 | alongside = }} {{s-aft | after=Alick Shaw}} {{s-culture}} {{s-bef | before = Paul Hunt }} {{s-ttl | title = Chief Human Rights Commissioner | years = 2024–present }} {{s-inc}} {{end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainbow, Stephen}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Waimea College Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni Category:Wellington City Councillors Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians Category:Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand politicians Category:New Zealand National Party politicians Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1990 New Zealand general election Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1999 New Zealand general election