“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.
Flag of New Zealand
New Zealand Map
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.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
New Zealand
Living and working in NZ
Find out more about how to immigrate to New Zealand and see if your skills are what is needed in this beautiful
country of ours. Graduates and Professionals stand good
chance to make NZ their home:) New Zealand Immigration
web site is: http://www.immigration.govt.nz ...
http://www.ahmadiyya.org.nz/index.php
