New Zealand: Protesters Block Sikh Nagar Kirtan in South Auckland, Police Intervene

December 21, 2025

South Auckland: Local residents protested during a Nagar Kirtan organized by the Sikh community in the Manurewa suburb of South Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday. They blocked the route of the kirtan and performed haka (haka).

Protesters’ banners and slogans

The protesters waved banners like “This is New Zealand, not India” and “Let New Zealand be New Zealand, this is our land, this is our stand”. The group, numbering about 30-35 people, was associated with Brian Tamaki, the head of the Pentecostal organization Destiny Church.

The Nagar Kirtan was returning to the gurdwara

According to Sikh leader Sunny Singh, the Nagar Kirtan had started from Gurdwara Nanaksar Thath Ishar Darbar and was returning to the gurdwara after touring the area. As the Nagar Kirtan approached the Gurdwara, local protesters blocked the route.

The Sikh community showed restraint.

Meanwhile, members of the Sikh community were alarmed by the actions and slogans of the protesters, as there was no apparent confrontation. Despite this, the Sikh community maintained complete restraint and prevented any confrontation from escalating.

The police intervened.

The New Zealand Police arrived on the scene shortly after and instructed both sides not to engage in any confrontation. The protesters then moved aside, and the Nagar Kirtan safely reached the Gurdwara.

Despite protests by local groups during the Nagar Kirtan held in New Zealand, the Sikh community maintained restraint, and the situation was peacefully brought under control with the intervention of the police.