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Auckland blocks memorial for WWII sexual slavery victims
Auckland authorities have turned down plans to install a statue honoring women forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military during World War II, citing insufficient community backing and potential diplomatic fallout.
Japan's diplomatic pressure
The Japanese embassy in New Zealand warned that erecting the bronze statue in an Auckland public garden could strain bilateral relations. Ambassador Makoto Osawa expressed concern in a letter to the council, stating the memorial might sow discord among New Zealand's multicultural communities and between local Japanese and Korean residents.
Osawa acknowledged Japan's historical responsibility but emphasized ongoing diplomatic efforts with South Korea to address the issue. The New Zealand government confirmed Japan had formally raised objections but clarified that decisions on public monuments rest with local authorities.
Public opposition and council vote
Auckland Council's Land and Property Advisory head, Kim O'Neill, recommended rejecting the proposal after public consultations revealed limited support. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board subsequently voted against the plan.
The statue, depicting a seated girl beside an empty chair, was donated by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, an advocacy group for survivors of military sexual slavery. Over 200,000 women-primarily Korean but also from China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan-were coerced into prostitution by Japanese forces during the war.
Advocates vow to continue efforts
The Aotearoa New Zealand Statue of Peace, the local group behind the proposal, called the decision "unfortunate" in a Facebook post. They framed the rejection as a setback for survivors' voices and pledged to persist in their campaign against gender-based and conflict-related violence.
"This is a loss for our local community and for upholding survivor voices. We are steadfast in our commitment to stand with survivors... and carrying on the legacy of the grandmothers."
Aotearoa New Zealand Statue of Peace
Global precedent and controversy
Similar memorials exist worldwide, with the first installed in Seoul in 2011. Japan's Osaka severed ties with San Francisco in 2018 after the U.S. city erected a comparable statue.
