Religious freedom
Religious freedom
New Zealand is a nation of people from all over the world who have many different faiths, beliefs and religions. We’re an open-minded country where you’re free to worship and practice your religion.
Your religious rights
A century ago New Zealand was a very religious country with most Māori and settler communities believing in some form of Christianity.
These days, according to our national census, just over half of all New Zealanders associate with a formal religion. Most New Zealanders are open-minded and often still believe in spirituality even if they don't belong to a particular religious faith.
New Zealand has no one official or established religion. It upholds the right to freedom of religion, worship and belief for all. This means you have the right to express your religious beliefs, including wearing religious items. It’s against the law in New Zealand to discriminate against someone because of their religion.
Tip: Even though New Zealand is a liberal, religiously diverse country you might still encounter people who don’t understand or support your beliefs.
If you experience discrimination or harassment because of your religious beliefs, don't hesitate to call or visit your local police station(external link that opens in a new tab) (remember, the New Zealand Police are friendly and professional) or contact The Human Rights Commission(external link that opens in a new tab) for help and information.
Practising your religion safely
New Zealand is a multicultural society which means that there are many cultures and faiths living alongside each other in peace.
However, your personal religious beliefs and practices may be new to or understood differently by some people in New Zealand. There might be cultural expectations related to your religious faith and practice that are different to New Zealand values and beliefs. For example, there are a growing number of New Zealanders who don't practice any religion at all.
Sometimes practicing your religion can be difficult in a foreign country, even when you have the right to do this freely (like you do in New Zealand). It can still be hard to understand how your religious identity fits into your life here.
There are things you can do to make sure you're comfortable practising your religion in New Zealand:
- Find out where you can practice your religion nearby.
- Find out if your place of study has places to worship, or groups, organisations, activities or events for people who practice your religion. Connecting with others at your place of study can be an excellent source of support.
- If you have religious dietary requirements (like halal), be sure to let your hall of residence, hostel, or host family know ahead of time.
- Keep an open mind about other people's beliefs and views.
- Know that religion may have a smaller role here than it does in your home country.
Tip: New Zealanders are a little reserved when it comes to talking about politics and religion. Some New Zealanders are very religious, while many are not. When discussing religion, remember to be considerate and respectful of New Zealanders who may have different beliefs to yours.