Muslims in New Zealand are young, energetic and growning
"New Zealand Muslims are fortunate to be able to observe their faith in peace and tranquility."
Mohammed Answar Ali, secretary of the New Zealand Muslim Association.
Although a minority, less than 1% of the total population, the Muslim population in New Zealand is young, energetic and growing. It is estimated that there are approximately 17,000 Muslims in New Zealand representing a wide range of nations including Fiji, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Indonesia and Malaysia. The largest proportion of New Zealand's Muslims originally come from Fiji and are ethnically Fijian Indian. There are also a growing number of local New Zealanders who are converting to Islam.
According to official census figures, the Muslim population has doubled almost every 5 years for the past 25 years.
Auckland, New Zealand
An estimated 63% of New Zealand's Muslims live in Auckland, but there are also large communities in Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin. There are currently 9 mosques and Islamic centres, 5 of which are in Auckland. Auckland's largest mosque is in the suburb of Ranui. The first Islamic school, Al Madinah, is in the Auckland suburb of Mangere. According to a recent report, Al Madinah, which has 350 students, has the lowest school grades in New Zealand.
While most of New Zealand's Muslims are Sunni Muslim there is also a small community of almost 1500 Shia Muslims. Due to recent changes in immigration policies this number has doubled over the past 3 years. During the late 1980's there were as few as 12 Shia families, however due to new opportunities in New Zealand many professionals have immigrated. Several members of the Shia community are running weekend Arabic schools and they are hoping to build a Shia Islamic school in Auckland soon.
Christian Witness Needed in New Zealand
Christian witness among New Zealand's Muslims is almost non-existent. Most Muslims in New Zealand will never meet a Christian or even be invited into a local New Zealand home. There is a small number of sincere Christians who pray regularly together and who are quietly reaching out to their Muslim neighbours, but the challenge to mobilise the Church in New Zealand to reach out to their local Muslim community is enormous.
This is New Zealand
Prayer Guide for New Zealand
* Pray for the migrants and refugees which are arriving in New Zealand almost every day.
* Pray that they would be placed within access to Christian support services.
* Pray for those Muslims who already have contacts with Christians, that their hearts would be opened to receive the Gospel.
* Pray for the children and teachers at Al Madinah School to have access to the Gospel.
* Pray that the Church in New Zealand would have an awareness of their responsibility and a desire to reach out to their local Muslim communities.
Background on New Zealand (World Factbook)
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
Economy of New Zealand
New Zealand has seen remarkable economic growth over the past two decades. Most of this growth is due to a move away from an agrarian economy to technological and industrial sectors. Although not everyone has gained from this, per capita income has risen for the last 8 years.
About New Zealand
Population: 4,213,418 (July 2009 est.) World Rank #125
Life Expectancy at Birth: 80.36 years. World Rank #18
Ethnic groups: European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8%
Religions: Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26%
Languages: English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy: 99%
School Life Expectancy: 19 years
"NZ - Islam Nation" - Video
A Documentry piece on what it means to be a Muslim New Zealander.
HAPPY NEW YEAR (2008/ AD-1429/ AH)
Salam Alikum
I am thinking to move either to Australia or New zealand. please guide me in the light of religious stablity, rascim. Please guide me as i need your advice..
Thanks
Wsalams
Great work as an Ex Muslim i would love to pary for Muslims around the world. I share gospel to Muslims of Malabar
Ebenezer H Mohammad
As an American convert into Islam from Christianity and a family with preachers and missonarys it drives me crazy to see why or when Christians go arround trying to convert people into Christianity. (this is for the expert above trying to convert muslims)People come into Islam in many ways but we do not send people out trying to convert people or think we should pray to change someones beliefs. If people instead of trying to convert the Muslims would spend there time accepting them even if not agreeing with them things would be much better off and there would be better relations. My husband (convert too)and 4 sons(young) will be moving to NZ to escape the problems here in the US with people and Muslims. My family can be traced to this country from the Mayflower and have been in politics and done so much for this country and now here I am having to leave it. I hope things are better in NZ and people are not so ignorant about Muslims as they are here.
assalamo alaikom Michelle,
NZ is as any where else. You find people who can see things as they are( usually not many and dear to meet) and people who can see things throuh a lot of filters. we have to learn to live with reality , appreciate those who see it and adapt to living with those who can not. We can just try our best to represent the real esence of our religion and leave the rest to Allah to help us live the life he menat for us and let others see what our religion really is about. Mass media has planted a lot of confusion ionto many people's heads, but we are real and we can show those confused people how different we are from the twisted image endosed by politically drived media. I belive living in Auckland, Duniden, Wellington , Hamilton or christchurch( in order ) can be easier for a muslin than the rest of the country( based on my experience and other stories form muslim acquantances).
Mnay muslim families live peacefully and happily in NZ for many years now. from time to time they face the challenege of meeting mislead people, unusual questions, mocking of clothing or of not being able to get a job) but they managed to deal with it, get over it, avoid it.. and they still live in new zealand and like it. (Unfortunately I stayed only 4 years and could not live away from my engineering carreer any longer as my financial status forced me to go for jobs overseas when i failed to get a single job as an engineer till 1999. I di dnot go back to NZ since thena althoug hI miss it very much..after all it is my country and I do love it. The positive scores are much higher than the negative ones in my opinion at the time I left the country..i hope it did not change much these days. Take care. you will be more than fine. people's experieences are different.
Hamesh
Pray for New Zealand Muslims:
* for Christian New Zealanders to reach out to them in love
* for Bible distrbution amongst New Zealand Muslims
* for dreams, visions, and revelations of the LORD Jesus
* for Muslim Albanians to come to Christ and then return to Albania with the Gospel
* pray for MBBs in New Zealand
As - salaamu - alaikum
My family and I are seriously thinking of emigrating to New Zealand. I am a teacher while my wife is a bank manager. We are both well educated with degrees. We have 2 young children. Our main concern is that will we get jobs and is it possible for our kids to grow up as Muslims and not be persecuted or ridiculed for their religious convictions. The New Zealanders we have met on our travels in Europe were fantastic people and warm and we got along so well and that is what we find so appealing to make New Zealand our home. Also, we want a safe and clean environment for our children and New Zealand fits the bill. Please advise in this regard.
Afzal Noor Mahomed - South Africa
Plz refer to my previous comment on a similar query..
"Most Muslims in New Zealand will never meet a Christian or even be invited into a local New Zealand home."
I have not heard of anything more ridiculous! Most NZ muslims are well integrated and have many Christian friends. We go to their houses and attend their weddings and vice versa. We respect each others faiths and leave it at that.
I suggest that you check the credibility of your information