New Zealand’s National Library to destroy copies of Quran, Bible, Torah

New Zealand’s National Library to destroy copies of Quran, Bible, Torah
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The National Library in New Zealand is destroying over 500,000 overseas-published books, including sacred texts like the Quran, Bible, and Torah, to save about $1 million annually in storage costs, The New Zealand Herald reports.

This decision has sparked significant backlash from religious communities and scholars alike. While Minister Brooke van Velden argues these texts are widely accessible and the move benefits taxpayers, critics highlight the cultural and spiritual significance of these works.

Religious leaders, such as Reverend Dr. Stuart Lange and FIANZ chair Abdur Razzaq, emphasize the importance of preserving these core texts, especially as many are still valued for worship and study. The New Zealand Jewish Council condemns the destruction of Jewish learning materials, citing inadequate consultation with their community.

Despite attempts to rehome some books domestically and overseas, uptake has been low, leading to the shredding of many volumes. The National Library insists its focus should be on New Zealand authors, but this narrow scope risks erasing valuable global heritage. Ultimately, the policy reflects a troubling disregard for the cultural and scholarly value embedded in these texts, reducing them to mere storage costs rather than treasured knowledge.