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New Zealand has recently witnessed a concerning increase in anti-migrant sentiment and hostile behaviour from a small section of society. These groups, often associated with far-right and religiously fundamentalist ideologies, appear to promote the idea that the country should reflect only their own beliefs and identity, rather than embracing its diverse multicultural character. Such attitudes and actions are creating unnecessary division, fear, distrust, and tension among migrant communities. The spread of inflammatory rhetoric and intimidation undermines the values of inclusion, respect, and social cohesion that New Zealand is known for. Many community members are concerned that the response from the government has so far been limited, with public statements not always being matched by visible or decisive action. There is a growing expectation that stronger measures be taken to address hate-driven behaviour, protect affected communities, and uphold New Zealand’s commitment to diversity and equal rights for all.
With elections only a few months away and a high-profile visit by the Prime Minister of India scheduled in just over a week’s time, the recent rise in anti-migrant rhetoric targeting the Indian community is particularly concerning. Among those leading such attacks is Brian Tamaki of Destiny Church, who has repeatedly directed inflammatory and divisive remarks against Indian migrants, particularly Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. Despite living in an age where information is readily available at the click of a button, he continues to make allegations of religious persecution of Christians in India under the Modi government based on hearsay and unverified claims. He has levelled baseless and misleading allegations without substantiating them with any evidence to create a negative image of Hindus in New Zealand. India is the only country in the world where people of different faiths have constitutional rights to practise their religion freely. Since independence, minority communities have continued to grow and contribute significantly to the nation’s social, economic, and cultural development. At the same time, concerns have also been raised about foreign-funded organisations engaging in religious conversions among economically disadvantaged communities through financial incentives, material benefits, or promises of a better future. Many also argue that Hindus, despite being the majority community, are frequently portrayed negatively and often feel that their concerns receive inadequate attention, both within India and internationally, due to narratives they believe misrepresent the reality on the ground.
The Government of India has finally taken the issue of religious conversions seriously and has introduced stricter laws to curb what it considers illegal or coercive conversions and the funding of such activities. Against this backdrop, people like Brian Tamaki continue to accuse the Modi government of persecuting Christians. To many, such accusations appear politically motivated rather than based on a balanced assessment of the situation. For many Indians, protecting the rights and interests of the majority community should not be portrayed as religious persecution. Yet, whenever the Indian government takes steps that it says are aimed at preventing illegal conversions or safeguarding the interests of the majority community, people with vested interests are quick to label those actions as persecution which is a glaring example of double standard. If such activities are allowed to continue unchecked, there is little criticism; but when measures are introduced to regulate them, they are condemned by the same voices. What makes this even more ironic, is that Brian Tamaki himself promotes the primacy of Christianity while living in a multicultural and religiously diverse country like New Zealand. Critics argue that while condemning India for allegedly favouring its majority community, he appears to advocate a similar preference for his own faith in New Zealand. This perceived inconsistency raises legitimate questions about this hypocrisy.
New Zealand has long prided itself on being an inclusive and multicultural society where people of different faiths and backgrounds have lived together in remarkable harmony, setting an example for the rest of the world. The New Zealand Government must ensure that the actions and rhetoric of a few individuals do not undermine this social harmony or damage the country’s strong relationship with India, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies and an increasingly important global partner. -Yugal Parashar