A tranquil Sikh procession in South Auckland, New Zealand, was interrupted on Saturday by a confrontation with a Christian group, leading police to step in to ensure safety and order.
As reported by the New Zealand Herald, the activists involved—known as True Patriots of NZ—are associated with Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church, a fundamentalist Christian group. The clash happened during the traditional Nagar Kirtan, a Sikh religious parade.
Incident Overview
Footage circulating on social media shows members of the Christian group donned in blue shirts with messages like “Kiwis First,” “Keep NZ, NZ,” and “True Patriot.” They wielded a large banner that read:
“This is New Zealand, not India.”
The protesters demonstrated a haka, a Māori war dance, as they confronted the Sikh procession. Police were visibly stationed between both parties to maintain peace.
Response from Brian Tamaki
Brian Tamaki, leader of the church connected to the protestors, shared the incident online with a caption:
“THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND.”
In a follow-up post, he declared: “Kiwis will not be silent while foreign religions flood in. We will stand peacefully, proudly, and unapologetically for our land, our faith, and our Kiwi way of life.”
Police Remarks
NZ Police Inspector Matt Hoyes reported that around 50 individuals attempted to impede the parade at roughly 2 PM. “Police acted promptly to ensure the parade could proceed safely. Additional officers guided participants for the remainder of the route,” Hoyes stated.
He also commented that while the right to protest is upheld, “Police will not accept actions that compromise public safety or intimidate those exercising their lawful rights.”
Sikh Community's Reaction
The New Zealand Sikh Youth organization condemned the disturbance, emphasizing that the Nagar Kirtan adhered to all authorization regulations.
In their statement, they affirmed: “A Nagar Kirtan is a peaceful cultural and religious procession. Offering free food to the community is a core Sikh value.”
They further remarked that the chanting and haka presented by the protesting group sharply contrasted the serene nature of the Sikh gathering.
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