A peaceful Sikh religious procession in South Auckland was dramatically halted over the weekend, sparking a major national row about identity, intolerance, and the misuse of Indigenous culture after members of a far-right group performed a Maori haka to block its path.
Videos that quickly went viral on social media show a tense standoff on Great South Road in Manurewa. Members of the nagar kirtan—a Sikh celebratory parade involving music, prayer, and the ceremonial carrying of the Guru Granth Sahib—were confronted by a line of people in blue T-shirts. The group, identified as followers of Pentecostal Pastor Brian Tamaki and his Destiny Church, performed a traditional Maori 'Haka', effectively stopping the procession from advancing.
Throughout the incident, slogans such as "One True God" and "Jesus-Jesus" were raised by the protesters. Police officers were seen positioning themselves between the two groups to prevent any physical escalation.
The controversy intensified when Pastor Brian Tamaki shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), framing the action as a patriotic defence of New Zealand. "THIS IS OUR LAND. THIS IS OUR STAND. Today, True Patriots stood their ground in South Auckland," he wrote. "No violence. No riots. Just my young men performing a haka...face-to-face...to send a clear message: KEEP NZ, NZ."
In a subsequent post laden with unsubstantiated allegations, he accused the Sikh participants of being linked to "Khalistan terrorists," claiming they were "wielding swords and daggers, flying foreign and terrorist flags." He provided no evidence for these claims. Organisers of the nagar kirtan had obtained all necessary council approvals for the procession and described the disruption as both unexpected and deeply troubling.
The incident and Tamaki's comments prompted swift condemnation from across the political spectrum.
New Zealand MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan issued a strong statement rejecting the narrative pushed by Tamaki. "New Zealand is home to people who speak over 300 different languages, belong to many faiths and have brought numerous traditions and festivals to this nation," she said. "The Sikhs, for example, have been here since the late 1800s. So it's pretty ridiculous that one man and his band of followers think they can dictate who is or isn't Kiwi and what is or isn't 'the Kiwi way of life'."
Other community leaders and politicians echoed this sentiment, expressing solidarity with the Sikh community and emphasising that such actions do not represent New Zealand's values of diversity and religious freedom.
A significant point of contention is the use of the haka in this context. The haka is a sacred Maori dance tradition that represents identity, pride, unity, and respect. It is performed at significant events, including welcomes, challenges, and celebrations. Its deployment by a non-Maori, Pentecostal-affiliated group as a tool of intimidation and exclusion has been criticised by many Maori leaders and cultural commentators as a profound misappropriation.
"This is not what the haka is for," said one cultural expert. "Using it to threaten a peaceful religious gathering turns a symbol of our culture into a weapon of division, which is deeply offensive."
The Sikh community in New Zealand has roots dating back to the late 19th century, with individuals contributing significantly to the nation's fabric as soldiers, farmers, business leaders, and community pillars. The nagar kirtan is an annual public event in many cities, symbolising values of service, equality, and sharing—principles shared widely in Kiwi society.
The incident in South Auckland has ignited a necessary but difficult conversation about coexistence, the rise of fringe far-right rhetoric, and the need to protect both cultural expression and religious practice from harassment. As police review the circumstances of the disruption, the nation is left to grapple with a stark question: whose land, and whose standards, truly define a modern, multicultural New Zealand?
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