Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand

Following two meetings in Palmerston North on 6 February 1979 and Auckland on 15 April 1989, a consensus was reached and the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) was formally established.

Auckland resident Mazhar Krasniqi (an Albanian SS Goya refugee from Kosovo) was the inaugural president, Dr Hajji Hanif Quazi was the first Secretary-General, and Haji Hussain Sahib was made the first FIANZ treasurer.

[4] In April 1988, FIANZ held its first ever South Island AGM at the Canterbury mosque and Christchurch resident Dr Saleh Al Samahy from Saudi Arabia was elected president.

In response to the Canadian alt-right activists Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux's planned tour of Auckland in early August 2018, the FIANZ's president Hazim Arafeh sent letters to the Immigration Minister, Ethnic Community Affairs Minister, and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission urging them to bar Southern entry on the grounds that she was abusing her free speech by promoting hatred against Muslims.

[6] Following the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March 2019, FIANZ organised police and media briefings, facilitated meetings with central and local government agencies including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Christchurch City Council, organised meetings between affected families and the authorities, facilitated the return and burial of the deceased, provided victim support to survivors and their relatives, and memorial events.

[8] Following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, FIANZ called on political leaders to expel Israeli Ambassador Ran Yaakoby and to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza in mid November 2023.

[11] In early April 2024, FIANZ criticised the Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith's decision to abandon the previous Sixth Labour Government's efforts to introduce hate speech legislation addressing incitement on the basis of religious belief.

[13] In late June 2024, FIANZ chairperson Razzaq said the submission process for the Government's proposed amendment to part 6 of the Arms Act was "non-democratic and would only benefit the gun lobby.

[18] There have also been criticisms directed at the close relationship between certain Federation leaders and the New Zealand Labour Party after it was disclosed that FIANZ had contributed over $10,000 to their failed 2008 election campaign.