A Sikh Nagar Kirtan parade in Manurewa, South Auckland, New Zealand, faced a major disruption on Saturday, December 20, 2025, when approximately 50 members of the True Patriots of NZ group affiliated with Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church blocked the route around 2 pm, performed the traditional Māori haka, and shouted provocative slogans such as “This is New Zealand, not India,” “Jesus is the only way,” and “Kiwis first.”
Organised by the Nanaksar Sikh Gurudwara with all necessary permits in place, the procession featured hundreds of participants reverently carrying the Guru Granth Sahib, waving yellow flags, chanting hymns, and offering free community meals, embodying Sikh values of service and devotion.
New Zealand Police quickly intervened to separate the groups, escorting the parade safely to completion without arrests or injuries; Sikh leaders decried the act as a grave threat to religious freedom, while Tamaki hailed it as a bold defence of New Zealand’s Christian heritage; Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called for Indian diplomatic intervention, and the incident sparked global outrage with viral videos amplifying calls for tolerance.
Confrontation Escalates on Great South Road
The peaceful march, a cherished Sikh tradition known as Nagar Kirtan, symbolises faith, equality, and selfless service (seva), drawing families, youth, and elders who paused to distribute karah prasad (sweet semolina) and fresh fruit to passersby along the route.
Eyewitness videos captured the blue-shirted protesters surging forward with a large banner proclaiming “This is New Zealand, not India,” their haka performance a powerful Māori ritual typically reserved for welcomes, challenges, or farewells twisted into an act of intimidation as they stomped, chanted, and pointed aggressively at the procession.
New Zealand Police Inspector Matt Hoyes confirmed in an official statement, “Police acted swiftly to ensure the parade was able to safely continue and additional officers were called in to escort the parade participants through the remainder of their route,” stressing that while freedom of expression is protected, any behaviour endangering public safety crosses the line.
Sikh community spokespeople, including those from New Zealand Sikh Youth, emphasised resilience, noting, “The local Manurewa Sikh community gathered together for a scheduled nagar kirtan with all necessary permits,” and highlighted how participants maintained composure, continuing prayers despite the hostility.
This humanising display of restraint amid provocation drew praise from onlookers, with one local resident quoted online as saying the Sikhs’ dignity shamed the aggressors.
Church’s Activist History
Destiny Church, established by self-proclaimed Bishop Brian Tamaki in the early 1990s, has evolved into a vocal fundamentalist movement blending Pentecostal Christianity with nationalist rhetoric, frequently mobilising supporters for street protests against perceived moral decay.
Tamaki, who has contested elections under his Vision NZ party and styles himself as a prophet with divine mandates, shared live footage of the event on social media, framing the haka as a “peaceful stand” to reclaim New Zealand from “foreign religious influence” and immigration policies he views as diluting the nation’s Christian foundations.
The group’s objections zeroed in on Sikh men carrying kirpans obligatory ceremonial daggers symbolising readiness to defend the oppressed claiming they intimidated residents, though New Zealand law accommodates such religious articles during permitted processions.
This clash builds on Destiny Church’s history of targeting LGBTQ+ pride events, Islamic gatherings, and Māori land rights activism, often invoking colonial-era narratives of a “Christian Kiwi identity.”
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of heightened global scrutiny on multiculturalism, following similar anti-immigrant sentiments in Europe and Australia, and comes amid New Zealand’s own debates on integration post recent migration surges; Sikh leaders reported bolstered security plans for future events, while online backlash included petitions urging authorities to review Destiny Church’s protest tactics.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Moments like the Manurewa disruption expose the cracks in even the most inclusive societies, where imported tensions can ignite local flashpoints, yet they also illuminate the profound strength of communities choosing peace over retaliation the Sikh parade’s unwavering hymns amid jeers serve as a masterclass in empathy under fire.
The Logical Indian remains steadfast in advocating harmony, kindness, and open dialogue as antidotes to division, imploring faith leaders, politicians, and citizens alike to champion coexistence by dismantling stereotypes through shared stories and mutual respect rather than megaphones and banners.
