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The Hindu Council of New Zealand is delighted with the strong and encouraging response received for the 6th New Zealand National Hindu Conference, held on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at the ISSO Swaminarayan Complex in Auckland.
Held under the theme “Growing Communities, Thriving New Zealand,” the conference brought together youth leaders, women representatives, academics, policymakers, temple leaders, professionals, and community volunteers from across the country to engage in meaningful discussions on issues important to New Zealand’s growing Hindu community.
The conference was fully supported by the HOTA Forum New Zealand and focused on key strategic areas including:
•Encouraging Hindu Participation in Public Institutions
•Strengthening Community Collaboration
•The Safer Communities Project for temples and community facilities
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour and Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins addressed delegates and acknowledged the positive contribution of the Hindu community to New Zealand society. Their participation highlighted the importance of diversity, civic engagement, and community leadership in building a strong and inclusive nation.
Prof. Guna Magesan, President of HCNZ, expressed appreciation for the wide participation and strong support received from across the country.
“I am especially pleased to note that around 20% of our participants are youth, and nearly 50% are women. This reflects the inclusive and vibrant nature of our community,” he said.
The conference was coordinated by Dr Vinay Karanam, whose leadership helped encourage significant youth participation, including university students representing institutions from across New Zealand.
A major highlight of the conference was the presentation on the contribution of Hindu New Zealanders to the development of New Zealand. Data presented during the conference showed strong progress in education, professional achievement, and income growth within the Hindu community. Statistics indicated that median income among Hindu New Zealanders increased by 43.6% between 2013 and 2023.
The conference also featured the formal launch of three initiatives by Hindu entrepreneurs:
•Narada AI (Hindu’s own LLM)
•PauaPay (a zero-convenience charge payment gateway for fast and reliable payments to both merchants and users)
• Kinetriq AI cybersecurity products (a complete cybersecurity suite for every size of business in New Zealand, born in New Zealand, made for the world)
The initiatives were launched by Swami Vigyananand in the presence of political leaders and community representatives, dedicated to New Zealand community.
The programme featured several important sessions covering:
•Community leadership and organisation building
•Engagement with government agencies and public institutions
•Civic participation and public service pathways
•Temple and community safety initiatives
•Media and community representation
•Contributions of Hindu New Zealanders to society
The “One Hindu Community – Safer Communities Project” session focused on improving the safety and security of Hindu temples and community facilities throughout New Zealand. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between community organisations and government agencies to ensure safe and welcoming places for worship and community activities.
The conference provided an important platform for dialogue, networking, partnership building, and strengthening national collaboration among Hindu organisations and community groups. It reflected the Hindu community’s strong commitment to contributing positively to New Zealand’s multicultural society and to building an inclusive, harmonious, and thriving future for all New Zealanders.
Just before the conclusion, the following conferences were announced:
•2nd New Zealand Hindu Women Conference 30 August 2026
•3rd New Zealand Hindu Elders Conference 3 October 2026
•5th New Zealand Hindu Youth Conference 27 February 2027
•7th New Zealand National Hindu Conference 12 June 2027
HCNZ sincerely thanked all speakers, moderators, volunteers, delegates, and supporting organisations for their valuable contribution to the success of the conference.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Prof Guna Magesan
President, Hindu Council of New Zealand
021 0345621; [email protected] or [email protected]