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Major Hindu organisations (including temples and trusts) and over 200 registered and
informal Hindu bodies will be represented by a new national board.
Former Member of Parliament Mahesh Bindra was elected at the first board held on 07 June
2026, as the first chairman of the Hindu Board of New Zealand on a two-year term.
"The board will set up mechanisms to help the Hindu community interface with society,
government bodies, and international stakeholders," said Bindra. "It brings New Zealand’s
Hindus into a formal structured alliance that accommodates diverse ideologies, cultures and
philosophical perspectives within the faith."
The board will function on a corporate model. It is a loose federation of all Hindu-centric
organisations, both religious and social, that represent the 350,000 strong Indian diaspora in
New Zealand. The board includes individuals from all sampradayas (denominations),
professionals, technocrats and secular community leaders and politicians.
This inclusive framework ensures that smaller regional groups, independent language-based
congregations, and large-scale national organisations can coexist and collaborate equitably
without losing their distinct identities.
While Hinduism is seen as a single religion from the Western lens, it is in reality a composite
collection of complex creeds that coexist is a single ecosystem. Hindus call it Sanatana
Dharma that translates to 'the eternal law' or 'the eternal truth'.
It is the original, indigenous name for the spiritual and ethical traditions now collectively
known as Hinduism. Rather than a rigid, dogmatic religion, it is an inclusive framework of
universal, timeless moral duties and natural laws intended for all of humanity.
The Hindu Board is a platform for these plural Hindu voices to have their say. The board will
advocate, articulate and advise on Hindu matters.
The heterodoxy and syncretism encouraged by Hindusim is the reason Hindus are known for
fostering deep social cohesion and peaceful integration. The Hindu Board seeks to preserve
and project this long-standing legacy of positive civic contribution by the community. The
Hindu Governance Board is an apolitical national body, and has community leaders from
across the entire political spectrum to amplify the board's diversity of thought.
Mahesh Bindra and the board will be given operational support by the Hindu Foundation of
New Zealand (HFNZ).
About Hindu Foundation New Zealand
The Hindu Foundation of New Zealand is a registered charitable organisation dedicated to
advancing the welfare of the Hindu community and serving as its unified national voice. As a
democratically elected body, it is the largest pan-Hindu organisation in New Zealand, with
members from across all Hindu communities.
Media Contacts:
Secretary – Hindu Foundation New Zealand
For media enquiries, email [email protected]
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