Total population | |
---|---|
153,534 (2023) 2.9% of the New Zealand Population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Auckland · Wellington · Hamilton · Tauranga | |
Languages | |
English · Hindi · Punjabi · Tamil · Gujarati · Marathi · Malayalam · Telugu · Bengali · Fiji Hindi · Indian languages |
Hinduism is the second largest religion in New Zealand. It is also one of the fastest-growing religions in New Zealand. According to the 2023 census, Hindus form 2.9% of the population of New Zealand. There are about 153,534 Hindus in New Zealand. [1]
Hindus from all over India continue to immigrate today, with the largest Indian ethnic subgroup being Gujaratis, Haryanvi and Dravidians. A later wave of immigrants also includes Hindu immigrants who were of Indian descent from nations that were historically under European colonial rule, such as Fiji. Today there are Hindu temples in all major New Zealand cities.
Hinduism by country |
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Full list |
In 1836 the missionary William Colenso saw Māori women near Whangārei using a broken bronze bell to boil potatoes. The inscription is in very old Tamil script. This discovery has led to speculation that Tamil-speaking Hindus may have visited New Zealand hundreds of years ago.
However, the first noted settlement of Hindus in New Zealand dates back to the arrival of sepoys (Indian soldiers) in the 19th century, with the first communities from the Punjab and Gujarat arriving in the 1890s. Until the 1980s almost all Hindu migrants came from Gujarat. Later they arrived from all over India and from elsewhere, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and South Africa. [2]
In the 1991 Census, surging migration as a result of the Immigration Act 1987 made the number of Hindus surpass 17,000. [3] [4] India's Economic Liberalisation occurred in the same year, increasing the standard of living and allowing more immigrants to come in the future. The 1996 New Zealand Census showed the eased immigration laws resulted in the number of Hindus growing from 18,000 in 1991 to surpassing 25,000 for the first time. This was largely due to the continued success of the Immigration Act 1987.
In the 2001 Census, the population of Hindus was at almost 40 000, meaning that the number of Hindus tripled in the 10 years since the 1991 census. The 2006 census showed the number of Hindus to be 64,557, an increase of nearly 62% from the previous census in 2001. [5] The growth of the number of Hindus in New Zealand then slowed in the years between the 2006 Census and the 2013 Census because of a mixture of events. The heightened violence against Indian Australians (2007-2010) and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake were the main reasons why growth of Hindus declined. The latter was also the main reason why the Census year was moved from 2011 to 2013. [6] The slowdown in long term migration was partially offset by soaring numbers of Indian Students and Skilled Migrants, whose numbers increased rapidly during the Great Recession partly due to costs being cheaper and a better economic outlook. [7] [8] The recently conducted 2013 Census showed the Hindu population made up slightly over 2% of the population, with 90,018 adherents. This increased Hinduism's share of the total New Zealand population by 0.5% despite immigration slowing as a result of the events mentioned earlier.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1966 | 3,599 | — |
1971 | 3,845 | +1.33% |
1976 | 5,203 | +6.24% |
1981 | 6,078 | +3.16% |
1986 | 8,148 | +6.04% |
1991 | 17,661 | +16.73% |
1996 | 25,293 | +7.45% |
2001 | 39,627 | +9.40% |
2006 | 64,557 | +10.25% |
2013 | 90,018 | +4.86% |
2018 | 123,534 | +6.53% |
2023 | 153,534 | +4.44% |
^Percentages show the average annual growth rates. ^^From 1916-1966, Hindus were counted as "race aliens" [9] ^^^2011 Census was delayed due to the Christchurch earthquake. |
Hindus In Percentage By Years :
Year | Percent | Increase |
---|---|---|
1966 | 0.13% | - |
1971 | 0.13% | +0.00% |
1976 | 0.17% | +0.04% |
1981 | 0.19% | +0.02% |
1986 | 0.25% | +0.06% |
1991 | 0.54% | +0.29 |
1996 | 0.71% | +0.17% |
2001 | 1.02% | +0.31% |
2006 | 1.51% | +0.49% |
2013 | 2.12% | +0.61% |
2018 | 2.65% | +0.53% |
2023 | 2.9% | +0.25% |
2018 | 2013 [10] | 2006 [11] | 2001 | 1996 | 1991 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbers | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Christian | 1,738,638 | 37.31 | 1,858,977 | 47.65 | 2,027,418 | 54.16 | 2,043,843 | 58.92 | 2,298,793 | 63.5 | 2,621,824 | 77.7 |
Hinduism | 123,534 | 2.65 | 90,018 | 2.12 | 64,560 | 1.51 | 39,864 | 1.02 | 25,551 | 0.71 | 18,036 | 0.54 |
Māori religions, beliefs and philosophies | 62,634 | 1.34 | 52,947 | 1.36 | 65,550 | 1.75 | 63,597 | 1.83 | 23,325 | 0.6 | No data | No data |
Muslim | 61,455 | 1.32 | 46,194 | 1.04 | 36,153 | 0.84 | 23,637 | 0.60 | 13,545 | 0.37 | 6,096 | 0.18 |
Buddhist | 52,779 | 1.13 | 58,440 | 1.31 | 52,392 | 1.22 | 41,661 | 1.06 | 28,131 | 0.78 | 12,762 | 0.38 |
Sikh | 40,908 | 0.88 | 19,191 | 0.43 | 9,507 | 0.22 | 5,199 | 0.13 | 2,817 | 0.08 | 2,061 | 0.06 |
Other religions | 42,615 | 0.91 | 40,365 | 0.91 | 42,012 | 0.99 | 36,318 | 0.94 | 21,957 | 0.60 | 26,133 | 0.78 |
No religion/Object/Not stated total | 2,577,396 | 55.3 | 2,155,722 | 50.82 | 1,832,688 | 45.50 | 1,554,669 | 41.60 | 1,336,854 | 36.95 | 980,079 | 29.05 |
Total population | 4,699,755 | 4,242,048 | 4,027,947 | 3,737,277 | 3,618,303 | 3,373,926 | ||||||
According to the 2018 census: [12]
Majority of the Hindus in New Zealand are Asians, followed by Europeans and Pacific Islanders. There are 3,567 European and 1,857 Pacific peoples following Hinduism. Hinduism also has a small following among Māori. There are 858 Māori following Hinduism [13]
The first Hindu organisation - the Hindu Council of New Zealand (HCNZ) was formed in the mid-1990s and is affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a global Hindu organisation. HCNZ has hosted annual New Zealand Hindu conferences since 2007. It has also established the Hindu Heritage Centre, Hindu Social Service Foundation, Hindu Elders Foundation and Hindu Youth New Zealand, and runs youth and family camps. In 2010 HCNZ launched Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations (HOTA), a representative body for Hindu groups in New Zealand. [2]
Other Hindu organisations include Ramakrishna Mission, Chinmaya Mission, Sathya Sai Organisation, Art of Living Foundation, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Hindu Foundation, Sewa International and Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. [2]
According to a survey done by the Victoria University Wellington in 2019, it was found that New Zealanders believe that Hindus are more trustworthy than atheists, Protestants, Muslims, Catholics and Evangelicals. About 28.3 percent of New Zealanders have complete or much trust in Hindus, while 19.9 percent have little or no trust. [14]
Jews and Hindus hold the highest education level in New Zealand. [15]
During the 2020s, Hindutva activism within the New Zealand Indian diaspora attracted attention from the media and law enforcement authorities. In February 2020, The Spinoff guest writer Shahid S. claimed that Islamophobia was present among Indian diaspora social media pages, with the circulation of posts attacking Muslim immigration and praising the Xinjiang internment camps that targeted China's predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens for Assam in 2019 also sparked anti-BJP protests in New Zealand which inflamed BJP supporters in New Zealand. [16]
In May 2021, the Massey University communication professor Dr Mohan Dutta published a two-page white paper called Cultural Hindutva and Islamophobia about alleged Islamophobic elements in Hindutva ideology, calling for a careful examining of its presence in New Zealand. Dutta likened the online communication of Hindutva supporters to that of QAnon followers and the far-right Proud Boys. [17] [18] The white paper received a polarising response, with Dutta receiving online abuse and threats from Hindutva supporters. Two Indian community organisations the New Zealand Hindu Council, the affiliated Hindu Youth Association, and the Indian community website The Indian News accusing Dutta and Massey University of promoting Hinduphobia. By contrast, the Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians (AAPI), NZ Indian Association of Minorities, and Hindus for Human Rights Australia and New Zealand defending Dutta's academic freedom, condemning threats against Dutta, and calling for the New Zealand and Australian governments to monitor Hindutva ideology within the Indian diaspora communities. [17] [18]
In mid-September 2021, Dutta also participated in a controversial international online academic conference called "Dismantling Hindutva," which was co-sponsored by Massey University and 70 other academic institutions. Dr Sapna Samant of the left-wing advocacy group Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians (AAPI) also claimed that local Hindutva supporters were intimidating her and Dutta. [19] In late September, the New Zealand Police confirmed that they were investigating online threats against Dutta and had put a safety plan in place. [17] [18]
There are similarities between Hindu and Māori people customs and languages. There are at least 185 Sanskrit and other Indian language words similar to the Māori language. Some Hindu communities also have similar buildings to marae, where people hold meetings and sleep over. Māori also bless new buildings before they open, usually before sunrise, as Hindus do. [20] [21]
The following is a list of Hindu temples in major New Zealand cities. Cities are ordered by the number of Hindu Temples. The name of the Mandir is in bold and the location is in italics.
A West Auckland Hindu temple was the target of an arson attack over Labour weekend. The incident occurred at Shri Ram Mandir on Brick St in Auckland's Henderson on October 21, 2022 about 11.30pm. Temple spokesperson Pravin Kumar said, "It could have been disastrous because, on the premises, we also have a priest's quarters where the family of the priest were present - it's attached to the same building, and people could have died." [41]
In July 2023, multiple Hindu temples received anonymous letters with intimidating Hinduphobic messages denouncing idol worship, polytheism, etc. quoting passages of Quran. Hindu community leaders condemned the hateful messages and appealed for tolerance to avoid clashes between faith based communities. [42]
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Neasden, London, England. Built entirely using traditional methods and materials, the Swaminarayan mandir has been described as being Britain's first authentic Hindu temple. It was also Europe's first traditional Hindu stone temple, as distinct from converted secular buildings. It is a part of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) organisation and was inaugurated in 1995 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The temple complex also consists of a permanent exhibition entitled "Understanding Hinduism" and a cultural centre housing an assembly hall, gymnasium, bookshop, and offices.
Hinduism is the third largest religion in Australia consisting of more than 684,002 followers, making up 2.7% of the population as of the 2021 census. Hinduism is the fastest growing religion in Australia mostly through immigration. Hinduism is also one of the most youthful religions in Australia, with 34% and 66% of Hindus being under the age of 14 and 34 respectively.
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha is a Hindu denomination within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It was formed in 1905 by Shastri Yagnapurushdas following his conviction that Swaminarayan remained present on earth through a lineage of gurus starting with Gunatitanand Swami. As of August 2016, Mahant Swami Maharaj is the 6th guru and president of BAPS.
Hinduism is the fourth-largest religion in the United States, comprising 1% of the population, nearly the same as Buddhism and Islam. The majority of American Hindus are immigrants, mainly from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean, with a minority from Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and other countries.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Houston, Texas, built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. It is in unincorporated Fort Bend County, Texas, within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of Stafford and with a Stafford mailing address. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan tradition of Hinduism. It consists of a 11,500-square-foot (1,070 m2), 73-foot (22 m) tall open-air temple and a 25,620-square-foot (2,380 m2) surrounding deck. By July 2004 the cost to build the temple was $7 million at that time.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chicago, Illinois is a traditional Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya within Hinduism. The mandir is located in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett and opened on August 7, 2004. It was built of hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone. The mandir is the largest of its kind in Illinois and was constructed in accordance to the Shilpa shastras. The mandir complex spreads over 27 acres and includes the mandir and the haveli.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nairobi is a Hindu temple in Nairobi, Kenya. Although there were temples in Africa before this, it is the first traditional stone and marble Hindu temple to be constructed on the African continent and was built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu denomination within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It was opened on 29 August 1999 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the 5th spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
The earliest evidence of Hinduism in Tanzania is from the 1st millennium AD when there was trade between East Africa and Indian subcontinent. Most of these traders came from Gujarat, Deccan and the Chola empire. Archaeological evidence of small Hindu settlements have been found in Zanzibar and parts of Swahili coast, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Atlanta, Georgia, inaugurated on August 26, 2007, by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a denomination of the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj. The mandir is located in the Lilburn suburb of Atlanta and was constructed in accordance with the Shilpa shastras, which are ancient Hindu architectural scriptures. It was the largest mandir of its kind outside of India. The mandir is made of 34,450 pieces of hand-carved Italian marble, Turkish Limestone and Indian pink sandstone, and are all situated on over 30 acres of landscaped grounds. The mandir complex also includes a large assembly hall, family activity center, classrooms, and an exhibition on the key tenets of Hinduism. Baps Atlanta Mandir is a remarkable place of joy and internal peace.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Toronto, Ontario, that was built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a global spiritual organization within the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. The mandir was built in 18 months and consists of 24,000 pieces of hand-carved Italian carrara marble, Turkish limestone and Indian pink stone. The mandir is the largest of its kind in Canada and was constructed according to guidelines outlined in ancient Hindu scriptures. The grounds spread over 7.3 hectares and in addition to the mandir, include a haveli and the Heritage Museum. The mandir is open daily to visitors and for worship. On June 26, 2023, the temple celebrated its 16-year anniversary.
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the worship of its charismatic founder Sahajanand Swami, better known as Swaminarayan (1781–1830), as an avatar of Krishna or as the highest manifestation of Purushottam, the supreme God. According to the tradition's lore, both the religious group and Sahajanand Swami became known as Swaminarayan after the Swaminarayan mantra, which is a compound of two Sanskrit words, swami and Narayan.
The Swaminarayan Mandir in Auckland is the second Mandir (Temple) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday in New Zealand. The Mandir comes under the ISSO of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple complex located in Chino Hills, in southwestern San Bernardino County in southern California. The temple belongs to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha denomination of Hinduism. However, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is open to visitors of all faiths.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Christchurch is the third mandir in New Zealand of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). It is the only Hindu temple on the South Island of New Zealand. It officially opened on 26 June 2012.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu mandir (temple) built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Robbinsville, New Jersey, within Mercer County, in central New Jersey. It is the largest Hindu mandir in the United States and the second-largest in the world, the largest outside of Asia, and the largest Hindu mandir built in modern times, rising 213 ft (65 m) above ground. The mandir has a total of 13 shrines dedicated to various Hindu deities. The central shrine is dedicated to Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, worshiped together as Akshar Purushottam Maharaj.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edison, New Jersey is a Hindu temple built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu denomination within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. The first BAPS mandir built in Edison was consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in August 1996. In 2019, a new mandir was built on the same property and a re-inauguration ceremony was conducted by senior monastic disciples.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville in Central New Jersey is a Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
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