Guterres visited the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, where a gunman killed more than 40 people on March 15 in one of the attacks on two mosques that killed a total of 51 people.
An Australian man has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder over the attacks.
"Hate speech is spreading and public discourse is being coarsened," Guterres said in a speech outside the mosque.
"Social media is being exploited as a platform for bigotry. We must all show solidarity in response to this dangerous upsurge in hatred."
Guterres has asked the United Nations' special adviser for the prevention of genocide to form a team to develop a global plan of action against hate speech, he added.
The UN chief's visit to the island nation came as its Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern prepared to co-host a meeting in France for global support to combat online expression of violence.
Guterres usually makes a "visit of solidarity" to a Muslim nation during the annual holy month of Ramadan, which began on May 5, but decided to visit New Zealand in light of the shootings, he added.
After his three-day New Zealand visit, Guterres will meet Pacific leaders in Fiji to discuss climate change on Wednesday and visit the low-lying island nations of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, which are among the first to feel the impact of global warming.
Related Stories
Comments
If sovereign nations cannot close down these sites, you would think the extremists welcome globalisation.
Some of the hate speech is at people with background cultures that are known to be hostile ,cruel, oppressive etc.
Correct curios not just white power / Islamic also... or are we not suppose to say that.