Protests Disrupt Sikh Nagar Kirtan in Tauranga, New Zealand

In Tauranga, New Zealand, a Sikh Nagar Kirtan was again disrupted, the second such incident in just three weeks, prompting major concerns regarding religious freedom and community harmony.

This latest event occurred on Sunday, around 225 kilometers from Auckland, where the Sikh community had gathered to honor the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism.

Starting at the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, the peaceful procession began around 11 am and was en route along Cameron Road to Tauranga Boys’ College when members affiliated with Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church attempted to obstruct it.

The protesters showcased the Haka dance and displayed banners that read, “This is New Zealand, not India,” ostensibly trying to halt the Sikh celebration. Local authorities had strategically increased security presence anticipating disturbances.

Thanks to the effective collaboration between police and Sikh volunteers, the situation was de-escalated, and the procession concluded peacefully without any serious altercations.

Following the protest, Brian Tamaki uploaded a video on social media asserting, “WHOSE STREETS? KIWI STREETS. The True Patriots Are Not Backing Down.” He claimed that the protest was a demonstration of “peaceful defiance,” not violence.

These continual disruptions have sparked fierce responses from Sikh organizations globally. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) based in Amritsar expressed deep concern regarding what they perceive as deliberate interference in Sikh religious practices.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the protest strongly, referring to it as “a challenge to social harmony.” He emphasized that viewing Sikh traditions through a lens of hate is both unacceptable and undermines the values of coexistence.

“Nagar Kirtan is a solemn tradition in Sikhism. Opposing it not only damages the humanitarian principles of our faith but also threatens social harmony and peaceful coexistence,” Dhami urged both the New Zealand and Indian governments to take decisive action against the offenders.

A similar protest occurred nearly three weeks prior in Auckland, disrupting another Sikh procession commemorating the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, which also elicited strong responses from Sikh leadership in India.

These repeated incidents raise urgent questions about the safety of minority religious groups and underline the necessity for enhanced measures to safeguard the right to peaceful religious expression in New Zealand.