A Sikh religious procession in New Zealand was disrupted on Saturday after a Christian group confronted participants during the event in South Auckland, prompting police intervention.
The incident has drawn criticism from the Sikh community and renewed debate over religious tolerance and the right to peaceful assembly. THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND. 🇳🇿
According to a report by The New Zealand Herald, the group that confronted the parade was linked to Destiny Church, a Christian fundamentalist organisation led by political figure Brian Tamaki. Members of the group, identifying themselves as “True Patriots of NZ”, were seen performing a haka while heckling the Sikh participants, with police officers positioned between the two groups.
Today, True Patriots stood their ground in South Auckland.
No violence.
No riots.
Just my young men performing a haka…face-to-face…to send a clear message:
KEEP NZ, NZ.
While parts of Manurewa were shut down for hours by Sikhs and… pic.twitter.com/GjN9MYq1W4
Videos circulating on social media show members of the Christian group wearing blue shirts bearing slogans such as “Kiwis First”, “Keep NZ, NZ” and “True Patriot”, while holding a large banner reading, “This is New Zealand, not India.” The footage was later shared by Tamaki on his social media platforms, accompanied by the caption: “THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND.”
In a subsequent post, Tamaki wrote, “Kiwis will not be silent while foreign religions flood in. We will stand — peacefully, proudly, unapologetically — for our land, for our faith and our Kiwi way of life,” adding that the protest marked “only the beginning.”
Citing Inspector Matt Hoyes, The New Zealand Herald reported that around 50 individuals blocked a road at approximately 2 pm in an attempt to disrupt the scheduled parade organised by members of the Auckland Sikh community.
“Police acted swiftly to ensure the parade was able to safely continue, and additional officers were called in to escort participants through the remainder of their route,” Hoyes said. While acknowledging the lawful right to protest, he added, “Police will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or intimidate others who are exercising their lawful rights.”
Sikh Community Condemns Disruption
Responding to the incident, the New Zealand Sikh Youth issued a statement condemning the confrontation and confirming that the procession had received all necessary permits.
“The local Manurewa Sikh community gathered for a scheduled nagar kirtan with all required permissions,” the statement said. “A nagar kirtan is a peaceful religious parade in which Sikhs lead a cultural procession through the local area, often accompanied by the distribution of free food to the public, reflecting the Sikh principle of selfless service.”
The group further criticised the actions of the protesters, stating that the chanting and performance of a haka — a Māori war dance rooted in mythology — stood “in stark contrast to the peaceful nature of the Sikh religious event.”
The incident has sparked broader discussions in New Zealand over religious harmony, freedom of expression and the boundaries between protest and intimidation.
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