IBNS-CMEDIA: A Sikh religious procession known as a nagar kirtan was briefly disrupted in New Zealand’s South Auckland region on Saturday after a group of local protesters blocked the route and confronted participants.
Raising concerns over religious freedom, members of a group calling itself True Patriots of NZ—reportedly linked to Pentecostal preacher Brian Tamaki and the Destiny Church—confronted the Sikh devotees and performed a traditional Māori haka directly in front of the procession. The incident temporarily brought the march to a halt.
According to media reports, the nagar kirtan was organised by the Nanaksar Sikh Temple in Manurewa, a suburb of Auckland.
The protesters carried banners reading “This is New Zealand, not India” and wore shirts bearing slogans such as “Kiwis First” and “Keep NZ NZ”. They were also heard chanting religious slogans including “One True God” and “Jesus, Jesus”, The Tribune reported.
Police were present at the scene and intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further. No arrests were made and no injuries were reported.
Sharing a video of the incident on X, Brian Tamaki wrote: “THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND. Today, True Patriots stood their ground in South Auckland. No violence. No riots. Just my young men performing a haka… face-to-face… to send a clear message: KEEP NZ, NZ.”
Reacting to the incident, senior Indian politician Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the Indian government to take up the matter with New Zealand authorities.
“Strongly condemn the disruption of the peaceful ‘Nagar Kirtan’ procession in South Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday by local protesters,” Badal wrote on X.
“I urge Hon’ble External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to raise this matter with the New Zealand government and ensure strong measures are taken to protect the rights of the Indian diaspora and prevent the recurrence of such incidents,” he added.
