During the 1990 Iraq war the Newtown Islamic Centre was dubbed with graffiti and the Mayor of Wellington, Jim Belich, publicly apologised to local Muslims and appealed for calm.
In 1992 "Islamic leader Hafiz Khalid" was interviewed by the Porirua newspaper "Te Awa-iti" regarding the Hajj although he declined to have his photograph taken directly following hate mail : "Khalid says he does not wish to complain and he is happy living in New Zealand society.