A peaceful Sikh parade in Auckland was disrupted after Christian protesters linked to Destiny Church confronted the procession, triggering outrage over religious freedom and the safety of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.
Police form a human barrier as Christian protesters confront a Sikh parade in South Auckland, New Zealand, triggering a controversy over religious freedom and the Indian diaspora. Photo: X
A peaceful Sikh religious procession in New Zealand’s South Auckland was disrupted on Saturday after a Christian protest group confronted participants, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed debate over religious freedom and communal harmony in the country.
According to reports by the NZ Herald, the incident took place during a scheduled Nagar Kirtan—an important Sikh religious parade—organised by the local Manurewa Sikh community with all necessary permits in place.
Videos circulating online show members of a group calling themselves the “True Patriots of NZ” confronting the procession while police stood between the two groups to prevent escalation. Watch the viral video below:
The protesters, wearing blue shirts with slogans such as “Kiwis First,” “Keep NZ, NZ,” and “True Patriot,” carried a large banner reading, “This is New Zealand not India.”
The group was also seen performing a haka, a traditional Māori war dance, while chanting religious slogans including “One true God” and “Jesus.”
The group has been linked to Destiny Church, a Christian fundamentalist organisation led by controversial political and religious leader Brian Tamaki.
Tamaki shared footage of the confrontation on social media, captioning it, “THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND.”
In another post, he 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 this was “only the beginning.”
Citing Inspector Matt Hoyes, the NZ Herald reported that around 50 protesters blocked the road at approximately 2 pm in an attempt to disrupt the parade.
“Police acted swiftly to ensure the parade was able to safely continue, and additional officers were called in to escort the parade participants through the remainder of their route,” Hoyes said.
While acknowledging the lawful right to protest, he stressed that police would not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or intimidate others exercising their legal rights.
Responding to the incident, the New Zealand Sikh Youth issued a strong statement condemning the disruption.
“The local Manurewa Sikh community gathered together for a scheduled Nagar Kirtan with all necessary permits,” the statement read, explaining that Nagar Kirtan is a cultural and religious procession centred on devotion, unity, and sharing, often involving the distribution of free food as part of Sikh values.
The organisation described the protesters’ chanting and haka as being in “stark contrast to the peaceful nature of the Sikh religious event.”
The incident has also drawn sharp reactions from India. Senior Sikh leader and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the disruption, calling it a “threat to religious freedom and the spirit of universal brotherhood.”
Sharing a video of the incident on X, Badal praised the Sikh community’s restraint and urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene and raise the matter with the New Zealand government to protect the rights of the Indian diaspora.
The confrontation has reignited concerns over rising religious intolerance, immigration-linked tensions, and the balance between protest rights and freedom of worship in multicultural societies like New Zealand.
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