Bangladeshi family victims of hate message

A racist message has been crudely spray-painted across a garage door in the latest attack on a Papamoa Bangladeshi family.

Neither Kamrun Imam, 34, nor husband Hasan, a 39-year-old dentists, know the meaning of the slogan used but are still hurt by the expression of hatred.

"It's very upsetting. Personally I feel really scared," said Mrs Imam, a dental nurse who is pregnant with her second child.

"I asked the police if anybody comes in the middle of the night and broke the door off, what might happen."

The Imams emigrated to New Zealand 10 years ago and moved to the Bay of Plenty from Auckland last year.

Local constable Mark Farrell alerted the family to the damage on Tuesday morning. He said the graffitti was "really offensive".

A series of minor incidents have affected the family in recent months but they are most upset at verbal abuse directed at five-year-old son Zarif, which a neighbour said was swear words with a racial undertone.

Mrs Imam said New Zealanders were generally welcoming and friendly.

Papamoa painter Gary Davis spotted the message while driving past on Tuesday morning. He was so disgusted by the attack, he returned two hours later with paint to cover it up.

He said: "I know tagging is rife, but this is particularly nasty. To actually cross the line and go on to someone's property - that's invasion."

Anybody who saw suspicious activity on Monday night, or has information about the vandalism, is asked to contact the Papamoa police on 572 2440 or call 0800 SPEAK-UP.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES