Police have been called into the south Auckland suburb of Papatotoe after passerbys found a racially intimidating message painted outside a school on Saturday.

'Kill All Indian', the message read. Residents first noticed the words spray painted in red on the ground in front of a gate at Papatoetoe Central School on April 11, 2026.

"A woman who noticed it took a photo immediately and sent it to us," says Kunal Bhalla, who is a member of the local political group Papatoetoe Otara Action Team (POAT).

Established in 1857, the school is one of the oldest in New Zealand, and nearly three in every five students are of Indian-origin.

A group of residents quickly arrived at the spot and called the police, Bhalla says. "We have registered a formal complaint and the police have been here to investigate."

The intimidatory message was later painted over after the police were called in. (Supplied photo)

The police say they are actively investigating the incident and were onsite immediately after being notified yesterday.

"The school was also notified and have initiated their processes. Thank you for your support and assisting our communities to report immediately through official channels so we can get there as soon as possible," the police said in a message to community leaders.

Residents say the timing of the intimidatory message is of particular concern.

Just this week, Indian-origin candidates won three of the four seats in the re-run for the local board's Papatoetoe subdivision. They returned to power amid widespread race-based categorisation on social media over last year's elections, which were annulled due to voter fraud.

In her judgment on March 9, High Court Justice Jane Anderson noted social media comments portraying the irregularities as "immigrant corruption", and as concluding that the "Indian candidates masterminded fraudulent votes", were misleading and improper assessment of the decision.

Papatoetoe has evolved into one of Auckland’s most Asian suburbs, with South Asians now forming the largest ethnic group.

The deputy prime minister has already warned Indians here could be vulnerable to race-based sentiments.

Speaking at a public meeting in central Auckland on February 13, David Seymour said misinformation about the free trade agreement (FTA) with India is spawning a negative sentiment about New Zealanders of Indian-origin, especially in South Auckland.

"I would just make the point that there is an anti-Indian sentiment out there in the community. I've picked it up, especially in South Auckland."

He pointed specifically to comments by politicians early in the year. "We have had a period over the last, say, two weeks where there's been a lot of people saying a lot of things about India, about Kiwis of Indian origin, about the FTA."