Sikhism in New Zealand

Sikhism is the fifth most adhered to religion in New Zealand, with 0.88% of New Zealanders identifying themselves as Sikhs.[1] Small numbers of Sikh immigrants from Punjab settled in New Zealand from the late 1800s. Large-scale Sikh immigration began after changes to immigration policies in the 1980s. The New Zealand Sikh Society was established in 1964 and first Sikh Gurdwara opened in 1977.[2]

New Zealand Sikhs
Total population
40,908 (2018)
Regions with significant populations
Auckland · Bay of Plenty · Waikato
Languages
English · Punjabi
Religion
Sikhism

Sikh communities
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1996 2,817—    
2001 5,199+84.6%
2006 9,507+82.9%
2013 19,191+101.9%
2018 40,908+113.2%

Although Indians have lived in the country since at least 1810, the first confirmed Sikhs to live in New Zealand were two brothers - Phunam Singh and Bir Singh Gill. Bir Singh, from the Moga district of Punjab, was a herbalist who married and lived among the Maori on the North Island.[3] A small wave of Sikhs arrived in New Zealand between 1890 and 1910; mostly immigrants from Punjab.[4] Most Sikhs settled in Waikato, Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.

There is a significant history of many Punjabis being dairy farmers throughout New Zealand, many of them being great pioneers. The majority are in the Waikato region and have been there for many generations. Much hard work was undertaken in terms of clearing scrub and tea trees to convert to farmland in the early years. Embracing the Maori culture was also an important aspect. Many of these farmers are well respected within and outside the community for the significant contribution they have made.

With the Sikh community in New Zealand increasing, the New Zealand Sikh Society was developed in 1964, and the first New Zealand Sikh Temple was built in Hamilton in 1977 and another in 1986 in Otahuhu. With the increasing number of Sikhs in New Zealand, an increasing number of gurdwaras are being built.[5]

The number of people affiliating with the Sikh religion more than tripled since 2006. In 2018 there were more than 40,000 Sikhs in New Zealand.

There are around 150,000 Sikhs in London to the 40,000 Sikhs in New Zealand with 1.54% of London’s population following the Sikh religion against New Zealand's 0.88%.

Gurdwaras
Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Temple, Auckland

This is a list of Gurdwaras in New Zealand.

Name Location District
Begampura Gurdwara Sahib 1/9 Vernon St, Papakura 2110 Auckland
Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Sabha 193 Havelock Nth Road, Hastings Hawke's Bay
Dukh Niwaran Sahib 7/46 Broadway, Papakura 2110 Auckland
Gurdwara Sahib North Shore 128 Sunnybrae Rd, Hillcrest 0627 Auckland
Guru Hargobind Sahib Patshahi 6 114 Wiri Station Rd, Wiri, Manukau 2110 Auckland
Guru Nanak Sikh Temple 399 Greenhill Rd, Puketaha, Hamilton 3281 Waikato
Gurdwara Sahib Linwood 692 Gloucester St, Linwood, Christchurch 8062 Canterbury
Gurdwara Sahib Hastings 402 Eastbourne St E, Hastings 4122 Hawke's Bay
Gurdwara Sahib Naenae 4-10 Vogel St, Naenae, Lower Hutt 5011 Wellington
Gurdwara Sahib Palmerston North 7 Amesbury St, Palmerston North 4410 Manawatu-Wanganui
Gurdwara Sahib Te Puke 26 No 3 Rd, Te Puke 3183 Bay of Plenty
Gurdwara Sikh Sangat 43 Burrows St, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112 Bay of Plenty
Jagat Guru Nanak Sahib 29 Kilmarnock St, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011 Canterbury
Kalgidhar Sahib Tauranga 322 Cheyne Rd, Pyes Pa 3112 Bay of Plenty
Mata Sahib Kaur 23 Bryant Rd, Te Rapa, Hamilton 3200 Hamilton
Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar Manurewa 100 Great South Rd, Manurewa 2102 Auckland
New Zealand Sikh Society Hamilton 6391 Te Rapa Rd, Horotiu 3288 Hamilton
Shri Fateh Sahib Botanical Rd, West End, Palmerston North 4412 Manawatu-Wanganui
Shri Guru Ravidas Temple 1998 Great S Rd, Bombay 2675 Auckland
Shri Guru Teg Bahadur 24 Dunnotar Rd, Papatoetoe 2025 Auckland
Singh Sabha Christchurch 537 Ferry Rd, Woolston, Christchurch 8023 Canterbury
Sri Dasmesh Darbar Kolmar 158 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe 2025 Auckland
Sri Guru Amardas Sahib 24 Ward Ave, Fenton Park, Rotorua 3010 Bay of Plenty
Sri Guru Arjan 132 St Georges Rd, Avondale 0600 Auckland
Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Patshahi 6 84 Lady Ruby Dr, Dannemora 2013 Auckland
Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib 3034 Great North Rd, New Lynn 0600 Auckland
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Sangat Otahuhu 120 Princes St, Otahuhu 1062 Auckland
Sri Guru Singh Sabha 127 Shirley Rd, Papatoetoe 2025 Auckland
Sri Kalgidhar Sahib Takanini 70 Takanini School Rd, Takanini 2112 Auckland
Whangarei Gurudwara Sahib 23 Water St, Whangarei 0110 Northland

Notable Sikhs
  • Ish Sodhi – New Zealand national cricketer
  • Kanwal Singh Bakshi – National Party MP
  • Sukhi Turner – former mayor of Dunedin
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gollark: So what does that set?
gollark: Is this for that?
gollark: Waaait... the lens of disruption?

See also

References
  1. "2018 census totals by topic". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. Morris, Paul. "Diverse religions - Sikhs". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  3. "Our Communities: Punjabis – indiannewslink.co.nz". www.indiannewslink.co.nz. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. McLeod, W. H. "Dictionary of New Zealand Biography". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  5. http://www.nzsikhsociety.org/
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