The recent confrontation between a Pentecostal pastor's supporters and a Sikh Nagar Kirtan procession in South Auckland, New Zealand, has unfolded against a stark demographic backdrop revealed by the nation's 2023 census. While Pastor Brian Tamaki of Destiny Church declared "New Zealand is a Christian nation," official data tells a different story, showing a majority of Kiwis now identify with no religion.
Census 2023: A Secular Shift in New Zealand
The latest census data presents a clear picture of New Zealand's changing religious landscape. For the first time, more than 50% of the population, specifically 2,576,049 out of 4,993,923 people, declared they have 'No Religion'. This represents a consistent upward trend, climbing from 1,635,348 in 2013 to 2,264,601 in 2018, and now to its 2023 majority.
In contrast, almost all Christian denominations registered significant declines. The total number of people identifying with all Christian groups combined fell to 715,722, which is just 14.33% of the total population. Pastor Tamaki's own Pentecostal denomination saw a sharp drop from 45,777 in 2013 to 22,296 in 2018, and further down to only 19,245 (0.38%) in 2023. Other major groups like Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches also recorded substantial decreases.
Growth of Minority Faiths and the Nagar Kirtan Protest
While Christianity declines, other faiths are growing steadily. The Sikh population in New Zealand has shown remarkable growth, doubling from 19,191 in 2013 to 40,908 in 2018, and reaching 53,406 (1.07%) in 2023. Similarly, Hindus increased from 89,085 in 2013 to 142,008 in 2023, though many may be of Fijian origin. Buddhist and Muslim communities also expanded.
This context makes Saturday's protest in a South Auckland suburb more poignant. A few dozen supporters of Pastor Brian Tamaki confronted the Sikh Nagar Kirtan (religious procession), raising slogans like "One True God" and "Jesus-Jesus." Tamaki, during the event, asserted that New Zealand was a Christian nation with Jesus Christ as its God—a statement directly contradicted by the census figures released earlier.
Political Backlash and Solidarity with Sikh Community
The actions of Tamaki and his followers were met with swift criticism from several New Zealand Members of Parliament. MP Oriini Kaipara shared a post from Auckland-based academic Dr. Harpreet Singh, who stated the hateful actions were carried out by "one man and those who chose to follow him" and did not represent New Zealanders. MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan called the group's attempt to dictate "the Kiwi way of life" as "pretty ridiculous," noting Sikhs have been in New Zealand since the late 1800s.
MP Marama Davidson expressed solidarity, accusing the self-proclaimed pastor of seeking outrage and misusing culture like the Haka for racism and bigotry. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, the mayor of Norwich, Connecticut, USA, demanded strict legal action against such hate-promoting groups in New Zealand, calling this brand of nationalism a danger to humanity. The incident sparked widespread online comments from New Zealanders expressing support for the Sikh community.
Ironically, while Pentecostal numbers are shrinking in New Zealand, the denomination has seen phenomenal growth in followers in Punjab, India, in recent years. The census data and the protest highlight the complex, evolving interplay of religion, identity, and multiculturalism in modern New Zealand society.
