Sikhism in New Zealand


is the fifth most adhered to religion in New Zealand, with 0.88% of New Zealanders identifying themselves as Sikhs. Small numbers of Sikh immigrants from Punjab settled in New Zealand from the late 1800s. Large-scale Sikh immigration began after changes to immigration policies in the 1980s. The New Zealand Sikh Society was established in 1964 and first Sikh Gurdwara opened in 1977.

Sikh communities

Although Indians have lived in the country since at least 1810, the first confirmed Sikhs to live in New Zealand were two brothers - Phunam Singh and Bir Singh Gill. Bir Singh, from the Moga district of Punjab, was a herbalist who married and lived among the Maori on the North Island. A small wave of Sikhs arrived in New Zealand between 1890 and 1910; mostly immigrants from Punjab. Most Sikhs settled in Waikato, Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
There is a significant history of many Punjabis being dairy farmers throughout New Zealand, many of them being great pioneers. The majority are in the Waikato region and have been there for many generations. Much hard work was undertaken in terms of clearing scrub and tea trees to convert to farmland in the early years. Embracing the Maori culture was also an important aspect. Many of these farmers are well respected within and outside the community for the significant contribution they have made.
With the Sikh community in New Zealand increasing, the New Zealand Sikh Society was developed in 1964, and the first New Zealand Sikh Temple was built in Hamilton in 1977 and another in 1986 in Otahuhu. With the increasing number of Sikhs in New Zealand, an increasing number of gurdwaras are being built.
The number of people affiliating with the Sikh religion more than tripled since 2006. In 2018 there were more than 40,000 Sikhs in New Zealand.
There are around 150,000 Sikhs in London to the 40,000 Sikhs in New Zealand with 1.54% of London’s population following the Sikh religion against New Zealand's 0.88%.

Gurdwaras

This is a list of Gurdwaras in New Zealand.
NameLocationDistrict
Begampura Gurdwara Sahib1/9 Vernon St, Papakura 2110Auckland
Gurdwara Guru Ravidass Sabha193 Havelock Nth Road, HastingsHawke's Bay
Dukh Niwaran Sahib7/46 Broadway, Papakura 2110Auckland
Gurdwara Sahib North Shore128 Sunnybrae Rd, Hillcrest 0627Auckland
Guru Hargobind Sahib Patshahi 6114 Wiri Station Rd, Wiri, Manukau 2110Auckland
Guru Nanak Sikh Temple399 Greenhill Rd, Puketaha, Hamilton 3281Waikato
Gurdwara Sahib Linwood692 Gloucester St, Linwood, Christchurch 8062Canterbury
Gurdwara Sahib Hastings402 Eastbourne St E, Hastings 4122Hawke's Bay
Gurdwara Sahib Naenae4-10 Vogel St, Naenae, Lower Hutt 5011Wellington
Gurdwara Sahib Palmerston North7 Amesbury St, Palmerston North 4410Manawatu-Wanganui
Gurdwara Sahib Te Puke26 No 3 Rd, Te Puke 3183Bay of Plenty
Gurdwara Sikh Sangat43 Burrows St, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112Bay of Plenty
Jagat Guru Nanak Sahib29 Kilmarnock St, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011Canterbury
Kalgidhar Sahib Tauranga322 Cheyne Rd, Pyes Pa 3112Bay of Plenty
Mata Sahib Kaur23 Bryant Rd, Te Rapa, Hamilton 3200Hamilton
Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar Manurewa100 Great South Rd, Manurewa 2102Auckland
New Zealand Sikh Society Hamilton6391 Te Rapa Rd, Horotiu 3288Hamilton
Shri Fateh SahibBotanical Rd, West End, Palmerston North 4412Manawatu-Wanganui
Shri Guru Ravidas Temple1998 Great S Rd, Bombay 2675Auckland
Shri Guru Teg Bahadur24 Dunnotar Rd, Papatoetoe 2025Auckland
Singh Sabha Christchurch537 Ferry Rd, Woolston, Christchurch 8023Canterbury
Sri Dasmesh Darbar Kolmar158 Kolmar Rd, Papatoetoe 2025Auckland
Sri Guru Amardas Sahib24 Ward Ave, Fenton Park, Rotorua 3010Bay of Plenty
Sri Guru Arjan132 St Georges Rd, Avondale 0600Auckland
Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Patshahi 684 Lady Ruby Dr, Dannemora 2013Auckland
Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib3034 Great North Rd, New Lynn 0600Auckland
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Sangat Otahuhu120 Princes St, Otahuhu 1062Auckland
Sri Guru Singh Sabha127 Shirley Rd, Papatoetoe 2025Auckland
Sri Kalgidhar Sahib Takanini70 Takanini School Rd, Takanini 2112Auckland
Whangarei Gurudwara Sahib23 Water St, Whangarei 0110Northland

Notable Sikhs