KEY POINTS:
An African-American immigrant who fled Christchurch after a racial attack is a great loss to the city, Mayor Bob Parker says.
The 32-year-old woman, who has asked not to be named, was surrounded by six people in suburban of Lyttelton in October.
The group of men and women threatened her, using words such as "nigger" and "blackie", and told her to "go home".
She was so frightened by the attack she left for the North Island after arriving from New York only several months earlier.
"The whole thing took place in about a minute, then I stepped out and around them and ran home," she told The Press.
She said she was shocked because New Zealand had a "squeaky-clean and safe" image overseas.
"I had been told Christchurch has some problems with racism, but I didn't expect to literally be accosted by people my age in the street at three in the afternoon."
Mr Parker said the woman was an intelligent and wonderful human being with an interest in the community.
"Because of the actions of a few selfish, narrow personalities, she doesn't feel safe here, and that's a tragedy," he told the newspaper.
Police said a man had been charged with threatening behaviour in relation to the incident.
- NZPA
