New Zealand: Middle-earth at the crossroads

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Some things will never change in New Zealand. The spectacular scenery in the South Island, so graphically captured in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy of films, will remain for the benefit of future generations, as will the more subtle but equally appealing beauty of the country’s North Island.
Similarly, but less desirable, the country’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, will remain for posterity.
Rapid change
However, society is changing rapidly and with it the religious identity of New Zealand. Census statistics are useful in painting a portrait of that change. Between the censuses of 2006 and 2013, the proportion of New Zealanders declaring themselves as Christian dropped from 51.7% to 44.9%.
The greatest challenge to Christian identity in this rapidly secularising nation comes from those who declare themselves to be without religion: 32.2% in 2006 and 38.5% in 2013. It is quite possible that the proportion of those without faith will surpass Christians in the next census scheduled for 2018.
While Christianity and non-belief represent the two largest blocks in terms of New Zealand’s religious identity, the nation’s small minorities of other faiths continue to grow. The second largest religion in New Zealand is Hinduism, a faith which recorded growth from 1.6% to 2.1% over the last two censuses. Nevertheless, the Hindu community of 89,919 (2013 figures) is still quite small in relative terms. Many Hindus originate from Fiji and maintain strong links with their country of origin.
The minority faith, which is likely to be increasingly prominent in years to come is Islam. The 2013 census recorded 46,149 people as Muslim, representing 1.1% of the population. However, infrastructural growth is noticeable and, as is the case elsewhere, New Zealand’s Muslims are especially mission-minded.
Arrivals and refugees
Auckland receives 600 new arrivals per week. A significant number are refugees, of whom most are Muslim. A visit to the rapidly increasing numbers of mosques in the nation’s capital provides a snapshot of the fast-changing religious identity of New Zealand.
Recently a group of students from Laidlaw College, the large interdenominational evangelical college in New Zealand, paid a visit to the Masjid e Umar Mosque in Mt Roskill, Auckland, as part of an intensive course on studying Islam. This mosque was established in 1996 and describes itself as the busiest and the biggest mosque in all of New Zealand. Certainly the Mt Roskill area represents a key centre of New Zealand’s Muslim community. Authorities are undertaking significant improvements to the mosque with a much enhanced and lavish facility due for completion by mid-2017.
The Laidlaw College students were warmly welcomed by mosque officials, and received a lengthy presentation from the Imam, a graduate of nine years of intensive Islamic education in India. The Imam was very open to all questions and was quite frank in his answers. The Christian faith did not escape unscathed, with the Imam stating in no uncertain terms that the Bible was corrupted and Christians were wrong to regard Jesus as the son of God. Booklets arguing for Islam as the last and best faith were distributed to the students, providing them with a case study of Islamic da’wa (mission) in action.
Evangelical growth
It would be wrong to think that Christianity is in terminal decline in New Zealand. While census figures suggest that all mainline churches have suffered erosion in their numbers, evangelical churches have recorded some growth. And while New Zealand’s churches have a long and proud history of sending mission workers to overseas locations, mission-minded churches have recognised the rich field that calls for their attention and energy in their own backyard. That field includes Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and the rapidly growing adherents of no religion.
Christian evangelists have their work cut out in years to come, persuading an increasingly secular society that the message of Christ, not that of Muhammad or non-belief, is the way forward for this beautiful country.
This article first appeared in "Evangelicals Now", May 2017, p. 24.


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