In recent weeks, New Zealand has witnessed a troubling rise in a hate campaign against Hindus. This unsettling trend is primarily attributed to the actions of conservative Christian leader Brian Tamaki and his followers, who desecrated flags representing various religions, including Hinduism and Sikhism, during a protest in Auckland on June 21, 2025. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding social cohesion within the nation. The protest, which took place on Queen Street, featured hundreds of participants advocating for what they termed ‘Christian values’ and a distinct ‘Kiwi identity.’ These demonstrations have sparked widespread condemnation from the New Zealand government and various ethnic communities. Many have called for unity and respect for all religious beliefs, highlighting the need for dialogue in a multicultural society. What sparked the protest? The protest was triggered by a radical call for New Zealand to adopt Christianity as its official religion, led by controversial preacher Brian Tamaki. On June 21, Tamaki and his followers gathered at Aotea Square, where the demonstration quickly turned inflammatory. Protesters tore, trampled, and even burned flags representing non-Christian faiths such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism, along with LGBTQ+ symbols and mainstream media banners. The group, which brands non-Christian religions and secular movements as 鈥渟atanic,鈥 also demanded stricter immigration controls. Tamaki led chants of 鈥淣o immigration without assimilation鈥 as the crowd marched down Queen Street carrying a banner declaring, 鈥淣Z鈥檚 official religion: Christianity.鈥 The protest also featured a haka 鈥 a traditional M膩ori display of pride and unity 鈥 performed by his supporters, raising criticism over the cultural appropriation of an indigenous custom for a divisive cause. Government and Community Responses In the wake of the flag desecration, government officials and ethnic leaders have voiced their disapproval of the hate campaign against Hindus. They emphasised the importance of promoting social harmony and inclusivity in New Zealand’s diverse landscape. The New Zealand government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of all religious communities, ensuring that such acts of intolerance are met with appropriate responses. Deputy PM David Seymour slammed the rally鈥檚 anti-immigration stance as 鈥渦n-Kiwi,鈥 affirming New Zealand鈥檚 commitment to diversity and tolerance. He rejected Tamaki鈥檚 calls for tighter immigration and scrapping the country鈥檚 secular status, stating that immigration is open to those who support a tolerant, inclusive society. Underlying Issues The hate campaign against Hindus reflects deeper tensions between conservative Christian groups and multicultural communities in New Zealand. Protesters have expressed a desire for stricter immigration policies, suggesting a growing unease regarding demographic changes within the country. These sentiments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by New Zealand as it navigates its identity in an increasingly diverse environment. In recent years, there has been a hike in hate campaigns like Destiny Church’s in New Zealand. Nearly 73% of 19,589 hate-motivated offences reported since 2020 were linked to race or ethnicity, according to police data. Religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity also featured in hundreds of reported cases, said IndoNZ, an Indian community-focused content provider.