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((Short description|none))
((Use dmy dates|date=July 2023))
[[File:Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd 001.JPG|thumb|upright=1.25|The Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of [[Lake Tekapo]]. The stone church was built as a memorial to the pioneers of the [[Mackenzie Basin|Mackenzie]] region.]]
((Christianity by country))
'''Christianity in New Zealand''' dates to the arrival of [[missionary|missionaries]] from the [[Church Missionary Society]] who were welcomed onto the beach at Rangihoua Bay in December 1814. It soon became the predominant belief amongst the indigenous people with over half of Māori regularly attending church services within the first 30 years. Christianity remains New Zealand's largest religious group, but no one denomination is dominant and there is no official [[state church]]. According to the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]] while 37.3% of the population identified as [[Christians|Christian]].<ref name="affiliation"/> The largest Christian groups are [[Catholic Church in New Zealand|Anglican]], [[Catholic Church in New Zealand|Catholic]] and [[Presbyterian Church in New Zealand|Presbyterian]]. Christian organisations are the leading non-government providers of social services in New Zealand.<ref>((cite news
|title=Church actions louder than words.
|author=New Zealand Herald
|date=4 April 2008
|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christianity/news/article.cfm?c_id=500818&objectid=10501913
|work=The New Zealand Herald))</ref><ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/work-programme/building-knowledge/subsector-facts.html
|title=Facts about the sub-sectors of the community sector
|publisher=Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector
|work=OCVS website
|access-date=25 May 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403130850/http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/work-programme/building-knowledge/subsector-facts.html
|archive-date=3 April 2009
|url-status=dead
))</ref>

==History==
The first Christian [[church service|service]] conducted in New Zealand waters was likely to be carried out by Father [[Paul-Antoine Léonard de Villefeix]], the Dominican chaplain on the ship ''Saint Jean Baptiste'' commanded by the French navigator and explorer [[Jean-François-Marie de Surville]]. Villefeix was the first Christian minister to set foot in New Zealand, and probably said [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] on board the ship near Whatuwhiwhi in [[Doubtless Bay]] on Christmas Day in 1769. He is reported to have also led prayers for the sick the previous day and to have conducted Christian burials.<ref>((cite book|last=King |first=Michael|title=''The Penguin History of New Zealand'' |year= 2003 |publisher=Penguin|location=Auckland))</ref><ref name="first_service">((cite web|title=Samuel Marsden's first service|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/samuel-marsdens-first-service|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=21 August 2017|date=20 December 2016))</ref>

New Zealand's religious history after the arrival of Europeans saw substantial [[Mission (Christianity)|missionary]] activity, with Māori generally [[Conversion to Christianity|converting to Christianity]] voluntarily (compare [[forced conversion]]s elsewhere in the world).<ref>((cite web |last1=Stenhouse |first1=John |title=Religion and society – Māori and religion |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/religion-and-society/page-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817205258/https://teara.govt.nz/en/religion-and-society/page-4 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |access-date=17 August 2017 |publisher=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand))</ref> The [[Anglican]] [[Church Missionary Society]] (CMS) sent missionaries to settle in New Zealand. Samuel Marsden of the Church Missionary Society (chaplain in [[New South Wales]]) officiated at its first service on Christmas Day in 1814, at Oihi Bay, a small cove in [[Rangihoua Bay]] in the [[Bay of Islands]], at the invitation of chiefs [[Te Pahi]] and [[Ruatara (chief)|Ruatara]], considered to have been the first preaching of the gospel in New Zealand.<ref name="first_service2">((cite web |date=20 December 2016 |title=Samuel Marsden's first service |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/samuel-marsdens-first-service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131133406/https://www.nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/samuel-marsdens-first-service |archive-date=31 January 2019 |access-date=21 August 2017 |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage))</ref><ref name=":0">((Cite book |last=Newman |first=Keith |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/655641724 |title=Bible & treaty : missionaries among the Māori : a new perspective |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-320408-4 |location=North Shore [City] N.Z. |oclc=655641724))</ref> The CMS founded its first mission at Rangihoua Bay in the Bay of Islands in 1814 and over the next decade established farms and schools in the area. In June 1823 Wesleydale, the first [[Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Britain)|Wesleyan Methodist]] mission in New Zealand, was established at [[Kaeo]], near [[Whangaroa Harbour]].<ref>((cite web |date=21 December 2016 |title=Wesleyan mission established |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/wesleyan-mission-established |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085250/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/wesleyan-mission-established |archive-date=21 August 2017 |access-date=21 August 2017 |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage))</ref>

The first book published in the [[Māori language]] was ''[[A korao no New Zealand|A Korao no New Zealand]]! The New Zealanders First Book!'', published by CMS missioner [[Thomas Kendall]] in 1815. In 1817 [[Tītore]] and Tui (also known as Tuhi or Tupaea (1797?–1824)) sailed to England.<ref name="NZETC1">[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d12b.html NZETC: Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century, 1816]</ref> They visited [[Samuel Lee (linguist)|Professor Samuel Lee]] at [[Cambridge University]] and assisted him in the preparation of a grammar and vocabulary of Māori. Kendall travelled to London in 1820 with [[Hongi Hika]] and [[Waikato (rangatira)|Waikato]] (a lower ranking [[Ngāpuhi]] chief) during which time work was done with Professor Samuel Lee, which resulted in the ''First Grammar and Vocabulary of the New Zealand Language'' (1820).<ref name="TIT3">((cite web |last=Brownson |first=Ron |date=23 December 2010 |title=Outpost |url=http://aucklandartgallery.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/wonderful-letter-from-titore.html |access-date=13 January 2018 |publisher=Staff and friends of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki))</ref><ref>Rogers, Lawrence M., (1973) ''Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams'', Pegasus Press, p. 35, f/n 7 & 39</ref>

In 1823, [[Henry Williams (missionary)|Rev Henry Williams]] became the leader of the CMS mission in New Zealand. He settled at [[Paihia]], across the bay from [[Russell, New Zealand|Kororāreka (nowadays Russell)]]; then described as "the hell-hole of the South Pacific" because of the abuse of alcohol and prostitution that was the consequence of the sealing ships and [[Whaling in New Zealand|whaling ships]] that visited Kororāreka.<ref name="RW">((cite book |last1=Wolfe |first1=Richard |title=Hellhole of the Pacific |publisher=Penguin Books (NZ) |year=2005 |isbn=0143019872))</ref> Williams concentrated on the salvation of souls.<ref name="anglic2">((cite web |title=Henry Williams |url=http://www.anglican.org.nz/Liturgical%20Resources/Other%20Liturgical%20Resources/FATSweb/1607.rtf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014110845/http://anglican.org.nz/Liturgical%20Resources/Other%20Liturgical%20Resources/FATSweb/1607.rtf |archive-date=14 October 2008 |publisher=The Anglican Church in Aotearoa |format=[[Rich Text Format|RTF]]))</ref> The first baptism occurred in 1825, although it was another 5 years before the second baptism.<ref name="April1874">((cite web |title=The Church Missionary Gleaner, April 1874 |url=http://www.churchmissionarysociety.amdigital.co.uk/Documents/Images/CMS_OX_Gleaner_1874_04/0 |access-date=24 October 2015 |work=The New Zealand Mission |publisher=[[Adam Matthew Digital]]))</ref> Schools were established, which addressed religious instruction, reading and writing and practical skills. Williams also stopped the CMS trading muskets for food.<ref name="LMR1874-57">((cite book |last1=Rogers |first1=Lawrence M. |title=Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams |publisher=Pegasus Press |year=1973 |page=57))</ref> Māori eventually came to see that the ban on muskets was the only way to bring an end to the [[Musket Wars|tribal wars.]]<ref name="BM4">((cite book |last1=Mitcalfe |first1=Barry |title=Nine New Zealanders |publisher=Whitcombe and Tombs |year=1963 |page=34 |chapter=Angry peacemaker: Henry Williams – A missionary's courage wins Maori converts))</ref>

Williams organised the CMS missionaries into a systematic study of the [[Māori language]] and soon started translating the Bible into Māori.<ref>Fitzgerald, Caroline (2011) Letter of Henry Williams, 9 February 1824</ref><ref>Fitzgerald, Caroline (2004) Journal of Henry Williams, 12 July 1826</ref> In July 1827 [[William Colenso]] printed the first Māori Bible, comprising three chapters of Genesis, the 20th chapter of Exodus, the first chapter of the Gospel of St John, 30 verses of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of St Matthew, the Lord's Prayer and some hymns.<ref name="Gillies482">Gillies 1995, p. 48</ref><ref>Rogers 1973, p. 25, f/n, p. 70</ref> It was the first book printed in New Zealand and his 1837 Māori New Testament was the first indigenous language translation of the Bible published in the southern hemisphere.<ref name="B&T2">((cite book |last=Newman |first=Keith |title=Bible & Treaty, Missionaries among the Māori – a new perspective |publisher=Penguin |year=2010 |isbn=978-0143204084 |orig-year=2010)) pp 20-110</ref> Demand for the Māori New Testament, and for the Prayer Book that followed, grew exponentially, as did Christian Māori [[leadership]] and public Christian services, with 33,000 Māori soon attending regularly. Literacy and understanding the Bible increased ''[[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|mana]]'' and social and economic benefits, decreased the practices of slavery and intertribal violence, and increased peace and respect for all people in Māori society, including women.<ref name="B&T II">((cite book |last=Newman |first=Keith |title=Bible & Treaty, Missionaries among the Māori – a new perspective |publisher=Penguin |year=2010 |isbn=978-0143204084 |orig-year=2010)) pp 20-116</ref>

Henry Williams played an important role in the translation of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] in 1840. In August 1839 Captain [[William Hobson]] was given instructions by the [[Colonial Office]] to take the constitutional steps needed to establish a British colony in New Zealand. Hobson was sworn in as [[Lieutenant-Governor]] in Sydney on 14 January, finally arriving in the Bay of Islands on 29 January 1840. The Colonial Office did not provide Hobson with a draft treaty, so he was [[Treaty of Waitangi#Background history|forced to write his own treaty]] with the help of his secretary, James Freeman, and British Resident [[James Busby]].<ref name="moon">((cite web |date=13 January 2010 |title=Paul Moon: Hope for watershed in new Treaty era |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10619805&pnum=0 |access-date=15 January 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]))</ref> The entire treaty was prepared in four days.<ref name="MKing">((cite book |author=Michael King |title=The Penguin History of New Zealand |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2003 |isbn=0-14-301867-1))</ref> Realising that a treaty in English could be neither understood, debated or agreed to by Māori, Hobson instructed Williams, who worked with his son [[Edward Marsh Williams|Edward]], who was also proficient in the Māori language, to translate the document into Māori and this was done overnight on 4 February.<ref name="CARv2-32">((cite book |last1=Carleton |first1=Hugh |title=The Life of Henry Williams: "Early Recollections" written by Henry Williams |publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] (ENZB), University of Auckland Library |year=1874 |pages=11–15 |chapter=Vol. II |chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1048&page=1&action=null))</ref><ref name="Legal System2">((cite book |author1=Morag McDowell |title=The New Zealand Legal System |author2=Duncan Webb |publisher=[[LexisNexis]] |pages=174–175))</ref> Williams was also involved in explaining the treaty to Māori leaders, firstly at the meetings with William Hobson at Waitangi, but later also when he travelled to Port Nicholson, Queen Charlotte's Sound, Kapiti, Waikanae and Otaki to persuade Māori chiefs to sign the treaty.<ref name="CARv2-4">((cite book |last1=Carleton |first1=Hugh |title=The Life of Henry Williams: "Early Recollections" written by Henry Williams |publisher=[[Early New Zealand Books]] (ENZB), University of Auckland Library |year=1874 |pages=15–17 |chapter=Vol. II |chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1048&page=1&action=null))</ref>

In 1845, 64,000 Māori were attending church services, over half of the estimated population of 110,000.<ref>((Cite book |last=Ruka |first=Jay |title=Huia Come Home |publisher=Oati |year=2018 |isbn=9781877487996 |pages=38))</ref> By then, there was probably a higher proportion of Māori attending Church in New Zealand than British people in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Religion and Society"/> The [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|New Zealand Anglican Church]], ((lang|mi|te Hāhi Mihinare)) (the missionary church), was, and is, the largest Māori denomination. Māori made Christianity their own and spread it throughout the country often before European missionaries arrived.<ref name="Religion and Society">((cite web | url =https://teara.govt.nz/en/religion-and-society/page-4 | title =Māori and religion | publisher =Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of NZ | access-date =3 January 2020 ))</ref><ref name="B&T">((cite book |last=Newman |first=Keith |title=Bible & Treaty, Missionaries among the Māori – a new perspective |year = 2010 |orig-year = 2010 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0143204084 |pages=101–103))</ref>

[[Jean Baptiste Pompallier]] was the first [[Catholic bishop]] to come to New Zealand, arriving in 1838. With a number of [[Marist Brothers]], Pompallier organised the Catholic Church throughout the country.<ref>((cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=E. R. |date=November 2010 |title=Pompallier, Jean Baptiste François |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p23/pompallier-jean-baptiste-francois |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821085521/https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p23/pompallier-jean-baptiste-francois |archive-date=21 August 2017 |access-date=21 August 2017 |website=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography |via=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |orig-year=1990))</ref> [[George Selwyn (bishop of Lichfield)|George Augustus Selwyn]] became the first Anglican [[Bishop of New Zealand]] in 1841.<ref name=":0" /> Selwyn was criticised by the CMS for being ineffective in training and ordaining New Zealand teachers, deacons and priests – especially Māori. It would be 11 years until the first Māori deacon, [[Rota Waitoa]], would be ordained by the Bishop at [[St Paul's Church, Auckland|St Paul's, Auckland]], and 24 years before he ordained a Māori priest.<ref name="B&T II2">((cite book |last=Newman |first=Keith |title=Bible & Treaty, Missionaries among the Māori – a new perspective |publisher=Penguin |year=2010 |isbn=978-0143204084 |pages=182, 257, 258, 259, 272, 273, 274, 305, 318, 319 |orig-year=2010))</ref> The first Māori bishop in New Zealand's history was [[Frederick Bennett (bishop)|Frederick Bennett]], who was consecrated Anglican [[Te Pīhopa o Aotearoa|Bishop of Aotearoa]], in 1928.<ref>((Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Manu |title=Story: Bennett, Frederick Augustus |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b29/bennett-frederick-augustus |access-date=11 June 2023 |website=Te Ara, The Encyclopedia of NZ))</ref> The first Catholic Māori priest, Father [[Wiremu Te Āwhitu]] was ordained in 1944,<ref name="DNZB">((DNZB|last=Mariu|first=Max T.|author-link=Max Mariu|id=5t6|title=Te Āwhitu, Wiremu Hākopa Toa|access-date=12 December 2021))</ref> and the first Māori bishop, Bishop [[Max Mariu]] was ordained in 1988.<ref name="CH">[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmariu.html Catholic Hierarchy website, ''Bishop Max Takuira Matthew Mariu SM'']</ref>

The [[Sisters of Mercy]] arrived in Auckland in 1850 and were the first order of religious sisters to come to New Zealand and began to work in health care and education.<ref>((cite web
 |url=http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/who/default.cfm?loadref=7 
 |title=Who We Are > History – General 
 |publisher=Sisters of Mercy 
 |access-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525062451/http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/who/default.cfm?loadref=7 
 |archive-date=25 May 2010 ))</ref>
At the direction of [[Mary MacKillop]] (St Mary of the Cross), the [[Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart]] arrived in New Zealand and established schools. In 1892, [[Suzanne Aubert]] established the [[Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion|Sisters of Compassion]] – the first Catholic order established in New Zealand for women.<ref>((cite web
 |url=http://sistersofsaintjoseph.org.nz/the-journey 
 |title=Who We Are > The Journey 
 |publisher=Sisters of Saint Joseph 
 |access-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525102332/http://sistersofsaintjoseph.org.nz/the-journey 
 |archive-date=25 May 2010 ))</ref> The Anglican Church in New Zealand recognises her as a saintly person and in 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference agreed to support the "Introduction of the Cause of Suzanne Aubert", to begin the process of consideration for her [[canonisation]] as a saint by the Catholic Church.<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.hoc.org.nz/aubert/canonisation.htm
|title=The Process of Beatification and Canonisation: The making of a New Zealand Saint
|publisher=Sisters of Compassion
|access-date=3 June 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208003809/http://hoc.org.nz/aubert/canonisation.htm
|archive-date=8 February 2013
))
</ref>

In 1892 the [[New Zealand Church Missionary Society]] (NZCMS) formed in a [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] church hall and the first New Zealand missionaries were sent overseas soon after.<ref name="NZCMS-Mission">((Cite web |title=NZCMS |url=http://www.nzcms.org.nz/our_mission.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014031447/http://nzcms.org.nz/our_mission.html |archive-date=14 October 2008 |access-date=18 July 2008 |publisher=New Zealand Church Missionary Society ))</ref>

Although there was some hostility between Catholic and Protestants in the 19th and early 20th centuries, this declined towards the end of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/ethnic-and-religious-intolerance/page-7 "Religious intolerance"], Te Ara</ref>

==Demographics==
The proportion of New Zealanders who identify as Christian is declining—accounting for around 38% of responses to the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], whereas in the 1991 census it stood at around three-quarters.<ref name="2006table25" /> Christian groups are experiencing mixed trends. Anglicanism and Presbyterianism are both losing adherents at a rapid rate, while smaller Protestant groups and [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational]] churches are growing.<ref name="2013religiouscommentary">((cite web |url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-culture-identity/religion.aspx |title= 2013 Census QuickStats about culture and identity – Religious affiliation |publisher= Statistics New Zealand |date= 14 April 2014 |access-date= 17 August 2017))</ref>

"Anglican" is the largest single Christian religious affiliation in New Zealand, according to the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], which recorded 314,913 adherents in New Zealand. "Roman Catholic" recorded 295,743. When all [[Catholic (term)|"catholic"]] religious affiliations are added together they total 473,145 people. But the word "catholic" in English can mean either "of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic faith]]" or "relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the [[Western Church]]".((refn|Western Christianity includes both the (Roman) Catholic Church, Protestant Churches that share historic ties with the Catholic Church, as well as [[independent Catholic Churches]] that split later.|group=note))<ref>((cite web |title=catholic |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/catholic?searchDictCode=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225012417/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/catholic?searchDictCode=all |archive-date=25 December 2014 |access-date=24 December 2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press))</ref>

[[File:NZ Religious denominations by TA 2013.svg|thumb|300px|The dominant religious affiliation in each [[territorial authority]] (based on 2013 census)]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Denominational affiliation<ref name="affiliation">((Cite web|title=Most common religious affiliations in New Zealand|url=https://figure.nz/chart/RfmHYb2IsMMrn9OC|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Figure.NZ|language=en-nz))</ref><ref>((Cite web|url= http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Census/2013%20Census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-culture-identity/tables.xls |title= 2013 Census QuickStats about culture and identity – tables |publisher= [[Statistics New Zealand]] |date= 15 April 2014 |access-date= 18 July 2015 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140524102811/http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Census/2013%20Census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-culture-identity/tables.xls |archive-date= 24 May 2014 ))</ref><ref name="2006table25">((cite web
|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2006CensusHomePage/classification-counts-tables/about-people/religious-affiliation.aspx
|title=Table 25 in 2006 Census Data > QuickStats About Culture and Identity – Tables
|publisher=Statistics New Zealand
|access-date=14 November 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314022911/http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2006CensusHomePage/classification-counts-tables/about-people/religious-affiliation.aspx
|archive-date=14 March 2012
|url-status=dead
))</ref>
! colspan="2" |2018
! colspan="2" |2013
! colspan="2" |2006
! colspan="2" |2001
!Trend (%)
|-
!Number
!%
! Number !! % !! Number !! % !! Number !! % !! 2001–13
|- align=right
|align=left| '''Total Christian''' 
|'''1,793,970'''
|'''38.17'''|| '''1,858,977''' || '''47.65''' || '''2,027,418''' || '''54.16''' || '''2,043,843''' || '''58.92''' || ((decrease)) -11.27
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''Christian (Not Further Defined)'''
|'''310,143'''
|'''6.6'''|| '''216,177''' || '''5.54''' || '''186,234''' || '''4.97''' || '''192,165''' || '''5.54''' || '''((increase))'''
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''[[Protestantism|Protestant]] (& Protestant affiliations)'''
|'''846,000'''
|'''17.43'''
|'''1,093,065'''
|'''28.01'''
|'''1,286,196'''
|'''34.35'''
|'''1,324,353'''
|'''38.17'''
|((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Anglicanism|Anglican]]
|314,913
|6.70|| 459,771 || 11.79 || 554,925 || 14.82 || 584,793 || 16.86 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], [[Congregational church|Congregational]] and [[Calvinism|Reformed]]
|244,701
|5.20|| 330,516 || 8.47 || 400,839 || 10.71 || 431,139 || 12.43 || ((decrease))
|- align=right
|align=left| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Methodism|Methodist]] 
|72,183
|1.5|| 102,879 || 2.64 || 121,806 || 3.25 || 120,546 || 3.48 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]], [[Born again (Christianity)|Born Again]] and [[Christian fundamentalism|Fundamentalist]]
|65,283
|1.38|| 15,381 || 0.39 || 13,836 || 0.37 || 11,016 || 0.32 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]]
|53,874
|0.67|| 74,256 || 1.90 || 79,155 || 2.11 || 67,182 || 1.94 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Adventism|Adventist]]
|18,510
|0.39|| 17,085 || 0.44 || 16,191 || 0.43 || 14,868 || 0.43 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Baptists|Baptist]]
|38,043
|0.8|| 54,345 || 1.39 || 56,913 || 1.52 || 51,423 || 1.48 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Brethren (religious group)|Brethren]]
|14,160
|0.30|| 18,624 || 0.48 || 19,617 || 0.52 || 20,397 || 0.59 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Protestantism|Protestant]] (not further defined) & non denominational 
|9561
|0.20|| 4,998 || 0.13 || 3,954 || 0.11 || 2,787 || 0.08 || ((increase))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]]
|7929
|0.16|| 9,162 || 0.23 || 11,493 || 0.31  || 12,618 || 0.36 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Asian Christian 
|5101
|0.2|| 132 || <0.01 || 195 || 0.01 || 195 || 0.01 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Uniting/Union Church and [[Ecumenism|Ecumenical]]
|3693
|0.07|| 999 || 0.03 || 1,419 || 0.04 || 1,389 || 0.04 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]
|3585
|0.07|| 3,903 || 0.10 || 4,476 || 0.12 || 4,314 || 0.12 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Church of Christ|Church of Christ and Associated Churches of Christ]]
|3258
|0.06|| 2,145 || 0.05 || 2,991 || 0.08 || 3,270 || 0.09 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''[[Catholic Church in New Zealand|Catholic]] (& Catholic affiliations)'''
|473,145
|10.02|| 492,105 || 12.61 || 508,437 || 13.58 || 485,637 || 14.00 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] (& Orthodox affiliations)'''
|15,450
|0.29|| 13,806 || 0.35 || 13,194 || 0.35 || 9,576 || 0.28 || ((increase))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''Other Christian affiliations'''
|'''82,978'''
|'''1.83'''
|'''63,504'''
|'''1.53'''
|'''66,861'''
|'''1.79'''
|'''62,886'''
|'''1.81'''
|
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand|Latter–day Saints]]
|54,123
|1.15|| 40,728 || 1.04 || 43,539 || 1.16 || 39,915 || 1.15 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
|20,061
|0.42|| 17,931 || 0.46 || 17,910 || 0.48 || 17,829 || 0.51 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Christian 
| -
| -|| 3,714 || 0.10 || 3,798 || 0.10 || 3,558 || 0.10 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | '''Total Māori Christian'''
|'''56,157'''
|'''1.19'''|| '''52,947''' || '''1.36''' || '''65,550''' || '''1.75''' || '''63,597''' || '''1.83''' || ((decrease)) -0.47
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Rātana]]
|43,821
|0.93|| 40,353 || 1.03 || 50,565 || 1.35 || 48,975 || 1.41 || ((decrease))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Ringatū]]
|12,336
|0.26|| 13,272 || 0.34 || 16,419 || 0.44 || 15,291 || 0.44 || ((decrease))
|- align="right" || −0.10
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Māori Christian (not further defined) 
|
| || 222 || 0.01 || 219 || 0.01 || 237 || 0.01 || ((nochange))
|- align="right"
| align="left" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Māori Christian 
|
| || 333 || 0.01 || 360 || 0.01 || 426 || 0.01 || ((nochange))
|- align="right" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
| align="left" | '''Total population''' 
|'''4,699,755'''
| || '''4,242,048''' || || '''4,027,947''' || || '''3,737,277''' || ||
|}
((Clear))
<small>''(Note: All figures are for the census usually resident population.''<br />
''Percentages are based on number of responses rather than total population. These are nominal.''<br />
''The 2011 census was cancelled due to the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake]]''<br />
''In all censuses, up to four responses were collected.)''</small>

===Geographic distribution===

The number of Christians in New Zealand varies slightly across different parts of the country – as of the 2006 census,((update inline|date=August 2017)) the number of Christians in each [[territorial authorities of New Zealand|territorial authority]] ranged from a low of 43.7% (in Kawerau) to a high of 63.4% (in Ashburton).<ref name=tablebuilder>((cite web
 |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/products-and-services/table-builder/default.htm 
 |title=Table Builder 
 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand 
 |access-date=3 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415080504/http://www.stats.govt.nz/products-and-services/table-builder/default.htm 
 |archive-date=15 April 2008 |url-status=dead 
))</ref> In general, the tendency is for rural areas, particularly in the lower South Island, to have somewhat higher numbers of Christians, and urban areas to have lower numbers – of the sixteen designated [[Cities of New Zealand]], fifteen have a smaller proportion of Christians than the country as a whole (the exception being Invercargill).<ref name="tablebuilder"/> The average proportion of Christians in the sixteen cities is 50.2%.<ref name="tablebuilder"/>((update inline|date=August 2017))

==Denominations and organisations==
((more citations needed section|date=August 2017))
((Main|List of Christian organisations in New Zealand))
((multiple image
|total_width=450
|image1=St patrick's cathedral.jpg
|caption1=[[St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland|St. Patrick's (Catholic) Cathedral]] in [[Auckland]]
|image2=Cathedral of St Paul's, Wellington, NZ (5943119395) (cropped).jpg
|caption2=[[Wellington Cathedral of St Paul|St Paul's (Anglican) Cathedral]] in [[Wellington]]
|image3=First Church Dunedin.jpg
|caption3=[[First Church of Otago]] (Presbyterian) in [[Dunedin]]
))

[[Catholic Church in New Zealand|Catholicism]], associated mostly with New Zealanders of [[Irish people|Irish]], Polish, descent, is the most evenly distributed of the three main denominations, although it still has noticeable strengths in south and central [[Taranaki]], on the [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]], and in [[Kaikōura]]. It is also the largest denomination in [[Auckland]] and [[Wellington]], although not by a great extent. The territorial authorities with the highest proportion of Catholics are Kaikōura (where they are 18.4% of the total population), Westland (18.3%), and Grey (17.8%). The territorial authorities with the lowest proportion of Catholics are Tasman (8.1%), Clutha (8.7%), and Western Bay of Plenty (8.7%).((update inline|?=yes|date=May 2022))

[[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|Anglicanism]], associated mostly with New Zealanders of [[English people|English]] descent, is common in most parts of the country, but is strongest in [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] (the city of [[Christchurch]] having been founded as an Anglican settlement) and on the North Island's East Coast. It is the largest denomination in most parts of rural New Zealand, the main exception being the lower South Island. The [[territorial authorities]] with the highest proportion of Anglicans are Gisborne (where they are 27.4% of the total population), Wairoa (27.1%), and Hurunui (24.9%). The territorial authorities with the lowest proportion of Anglicans are Invercargill (7.7%), Manukau (8.3%), and Clutha (8.5%).((update inline|?=yes|date=May 2022))

[[Presbyterianism#New Zealand|Presbyterianism]], associated mostly with New Zealanders of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent, is strong in the lower South Island – the city of [[Dunedin]] was founded as a Presbyterian settlement, and many of the early settlers in the region were Scottish Presbyterians.((citation needed|date=May 2022)) Elsewhere, however, Presbyterians are usually outnumbered by both Anglicans and Catholics, making Presbyterianism the most geographically concentrated of the three main denominations. The territorial authorities with the highest proportion of Presbyterians are Gore (where they are 30.9% of the total population), Clutha (30.7%), and Southland (29.8%). The territorial authorities with the lowest proportion of Presbyterians are Far North (4.4%), Kaipara (6.2%), and Wellington (6.7%).((update inline|?=yes|date=May 2022))

[[Pentecostalism]] and non denominational churches are amongst one of the highest denominations according to the 2018 census. Examples of these churches are Life Church in Auckland, Curate Church in Mount Maunganui, Arise in Wellington and [http://harmonychurch.nz Harmony Church] in Christchurch.

Christian organisations in New Zealand are heavily involved in community activities including education; health services; chaplaincy to prisons, rest homes and hospitals; [[social justice]] and [[human rights]] advocacy.<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/who/default.cfm?loadref=8
|title=The Works of Mercy
|publisher=Sisters of Mercy
|access-date=3 June 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014085012/http://www.sistersofmercy.org.nz/who/default.cfm?loadref=8
|archive-date=14 October 2008
))</ref> Approximately 11% of New Zealand students attend Catholic schools;<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.nzceo.catholic.org.nz/pages/schools/schools-today.html
|title=Catholic Schools – Today
|publisher=Catholic Education Office Ltd
|access-date=3 June 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526051744/http://nzceo.catholic.org.nz/pages/schools/schools-today.html
|archive-date=26 May 2010
))</ref> the Anglican Church administers a number of schools;<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.anglicannzschools.org/schools/
|title=Schools
|publisher=Anglican Schools Office
|access-date=3 June 2010 ))</ref> and schools administered by members of the [[New Zealand Association for Christian Schools]] educated 13,000 students in 2009.<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.nzchristianschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=94
|title=A Brief Summary of the History of Christian Schooling in New Zealand
|publisher=New Zealand Association for Christian Schools
|date=1 January 2009
|access-date=3 June 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221110654/http://www.nzchristianschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=94
|archive-date=21 February 2010
|url-status=dead
))</ref>

==Culture and the arts==

=== Architecture ===
((See also|List of cathedrals in New Zealand))
[[File:Eastercamp.jpg|thumb|[http://eastercamp.org Eastercamp], South Island. A Christian event attended by 3500 youths from 50+ youth groups and churches in South Island. Held annually in Spencer Park, Christchurch]] [[File:Anglican Cathedral, Parnell.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland|Holy Trinity Cathedral]] in [[Parnell, Auckland]]]]

The [[architecture of New Zealand|architectural landscape of New Zealand]] has been affected by Christianity and the prominence of churches in cities, towns and the countryside attests to its historical importance in New Zealand.<ref>((cite encyclopedia
|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/society/7
|title=Society – Religion and the churches
|author=John Wilson
|publisher=Ministry of Culture and Heritage
|date=3 March 2009
|encyclopedia=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
|access-date=3 June 2010 ))</ref> Notable Cathedrals include the Anglican [[Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland]], [[ChristChurch Cathedral, Christchurch]] and [[Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington]] and the Catholic [[St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland]], [[Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington]], [[Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch]], [[St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin]]. The iconic [[Futuna Chapel]] was built as a Wellington retreat center for the Catholic Marist order in 1961. The design by [[Māori people|Māori]] architect John Scott, fuses [[Modernist]] and indigenous design principles.

=== Festivals ===
The Christian festivals of [[Christmas in New Zealand|Christmas]] and [[Easter]] are marked by public holidays in New Zealand.<ref>((cite web|title=Public Holidays|url=http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/public_holidays.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412054032/http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/public_holidays.html|archive-date=12 April 2010|publisher=Department of Labour))</ref> [[Christmas Day]], 25 December, falls during the [[Southern Hemisphere]] Summer allowing open air [[caroling|carolling]] and barbecues in the sun. Nevertheless, various Northern hemisphere traditions have continued in New Zealand – including roast dinners and [[Christmas tree]]s, with the [[pohutukawa]] regarded as New Zealand's iconic Christmas tree.<ref>
((cite web|date=22 February 2010|title=Kiwi Christmas|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/kiwi-xmas|access-date=3 June 2010|work=New Zealand History Online|publisher=Ministry of Culture and Heritage))</ref><ref>((cite web|date=16 December 2009|title=Kiwi's attitude to Christmas|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/video/kiwis-attitude-to-christmas|access-date=3 June 2010|work=New Zealand History Online|publisher=Ministry of Culture and Heritage))</ref> New Zealand once hosted the largest Christian music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, [[Parachute Music Festival]], however in 2014, the music festival was cancelled due to financial difficulties.<ref>((Cite web|title=Parachute music festival cancelled|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/parachute-music-festival-cancelled/N2A3XSRQZX7BDVI6GOB3TBMMNI/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=The New Zealand Herald|language=en-NZ))</ref> Large Christian Easter events still occur like [http://eastercamp.org Eastercamp], a Christian youth event in South Island attended by 3500 youths from over 50 youth groups and churches.

=== Music ===
Christian and [[Māori people|Māori]] choral traditions have been blended in New Zealand to produce a distinct contribution to [[Christian music]], including the popular hymns [[How Great Thou Art (hymn)#Māori|Whakaria Mai]] and Tama Ngakau Marie.<ref>((cite web
|url=http://folksong.org.nz/whakaaria/index.html
|title=Whakaria Mai
|publisher=Folksong.org.nz
))</ref><ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/audio/the-battalion-sings-tama-ngakau-marie
|title=The Battalion Sings 'Tama Ngakau Marie'
|publisher=Ministry of Culture and Heritage
|date=3 March 2009
|work=28th Maori Battalion
|access-date=3 June 2010 ))</ref>

=== Media ===
New Zealand has many media organisations and personalities. [[Frank Ritchie (broadcaster)|Frank Ritchie]], is a New Zealand radio broadcaster, Media Chaplain, and ordained Christian Minister who is a Sunday evening radio host on [[Newstalk ZB]].<ref>((Cite web|date=27 March 2020|title=National portrait: Rev Frank Ritchie, the media chaplain|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/canterbury-top-stories/120532656/national-portrait-rev-frank-ritchie-the-media-chaplain|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Stuff|language=en))</ref>

[[Rhema Media]] is a [[Christianity|Christian]] media organisation in [[New Zealand]]. It owns [[radio networks]] [[Rhema (New Zealand)|Rhema]], [[Life FM (New Zealand)|Life FM]] and [[Star (New Zealand)|Star]], and [[television station]] [[Shine TV (New Zealand)|Shine TV]].

== 2021 COVID-19 Church Responses ==
In November 2021, the New Zealand government announced that New Zealand will head into a traffic light system.<ref>((Cite web|date=28 November 2021|title=Which areas will the traffic light system apply to?|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/456764/which-areas-will-the-traffic-light-system-apply-to|access-date=14 January 2022|website=RNZ|language=en-nz))</ref> This meant that New Zealand churches had to choose between having a smaller congregation of both unvaccinated and vaccinated members attend or the alternative of an unlimited amount of attendees that provided a vaccination pass.<ref>((Cite web|last=Nixon|first=Jane|last2=Producer|first2=1News Digital|title=How churches can operate in the traffic light system|url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/12/02/how-churches-can-operate-in-the-traffic-light-system/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=1 News))</ref> Many churches like Auckland's Life Church, Wellington's [[Arise Church]] and Christchurch's [http://harmonychurch.nz Harmony Church]<ref>((Cite web|title=Newsroom|url=https://harmonychurch.nz/newsroom/|access-date=14 January 2022|website=Harmony Church|language=en-NZ))</ref> opted to take their ministry online over the Christmas period.<ref>((Cite web|date=4 November 2021|title=Churches ponder on Covid-19 vaccine certificates and balancing safety with values|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/454901/churches-ponder-on-covid-19-vaccine-certificates-and-balancing-safety-with-values|access-date=14 January 2022|website=RNZ|language=en-nz))</ref>

==Politics==
((Main|Christian politics in New Zealand))
Christianity has never had official status as a national religion in New Zealand, and a poll in 2007 found 58% of people were opposed to official status being granted.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10446229">((cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10446229 |title=Majority reject state religion: poll |date=17 June 2007 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=24 September 2011))</ref> Despite this, each sitting day of the [[New Zealand Parliament]] opens with a Christian prayer.<ref>((cite web |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/document/00HOOOCPPNZ_141/chapter-14-business-of-the-house#_Toc268767523 |title=Chapter 14 Business of the House – New Zealand Parliament |website=parliament.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202130720/https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/document/00HOOOCPPNZ_141/chapter-14-business-of-the-house |archive-date=2 December 2016))</ref><ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11371418 "MPs' new prayer rejected"], 9 December 2014, NZ Herald</ref> In contrast to [[England]], where the Anglican Church is the [[state religion|officially established church]], in New Zealand the [[Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|Anglican Church]] has no special status, although it often officiates at civic events such as [[Anzac Day]].

Most New Zealanders consider politicians' religious beliefs to be a private matter.<ref>Brian Colless and Peter Donovan, 'Editor's Introduction', in Brian Colless and Peter Donovan, eds, ''Religion in New Zealand Society'', 2nd edition, Palmerston North: Dunmore Press, 1985, p.10</ref> Many New Zealand prime ministers have been professing Christians, including [[Jim Bolger]], [[David Lange]], [[Robert Muldoon]], [[Walter Nash]], [[Keith Holyoake]] and [[Michael Joseph Savage]].<ref>((Cite news |last=Shand |first=Greg |date=16 December 1985 |title=The Bolger challenge |pages=B1 |work=[[Auckland Star]]))</ref><ref>((Cite news |date=14 August 2005 |title=David Lange, 63, Is Dead; Led New Zealand |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/obituaries/david-lange-63-is-dead-led-new-zealand.html |access-date=26 November 2023))</ref><ref>((Cite book |last=Gustafson |first=Barry |title=His way: a biography of Robert Muldoon |publisher=AUP |year=2000 |location=Auckland |pages=32))</ref><ref>((Cite book |last=Wood |first=GA |title=Church and State in the Furthest Reach of Western Christianity, in Christianity, Modernity and Culture |publisher=AFT Press |year=2005 |location=Adelaide |pages=226–27))</ref><ref>((Cite web |last=Wood |first=GA |date=26 November 2023 |title=Holyoake, Keith Jacka |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5h33/holyoake-keith-jacka |access-date=26 November 2023 |website=Te Ara))</ref> Prime ministers [[Helen Clark]], [[John Key]] and [[Jacinda Ardern]] identified as [[agnostic]] during their time in office.<ref name="Knight2017">((cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11789352|title= The politics of life: The truth about Jacinda Ardern|last= Knight|first= Kim|newspaper= The New Zealand Herald|date= 29 January 2017|access-date= 15 August 2017))</ref><ref>((cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Clark-and-Key-spar-in-final-TV-debate-before-election/tabid/209/articleID/78661/Default.aspx|author=NZPA|date=5 November 2008|title=Clark and Key spar in final TV debate before election|access-date=15 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323111413/http://www.3news.co.nz/Clark-and-Key-spar-in-final-TV-debate-before-election/tabid/209/articleID/78661/Default.aspx|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3554978|date=16 March 2004|title=Insults get personal between Clark and Brash|access-date=8 July 2007|work=The New Zealand Herald|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103025405/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3554978|url-status=dead))</ref> Prime Minister-designate [[Christopher Luxon]] describes himself as a Christian.<ref>((Cite web |title='No religion should dictate to the state' — National's Chris Luxon defends his Christianity in maiden speech |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/03/24/no-religion-should-dictate-to-the-state-nationals-chris-luxon-defends-his-christianity-in-maiden-speech/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=1 News |language=en))</ref>

Christian political parties have never gained significant support and have often been characterised by controversy. Many of these are now defunct, such as the [[Christian Democrat Party (New Zealand)|Christian Democrat Party]], the [[Christian Heritage New Zealand|Christian Heritage Party]] (which collapsed after leader [[Graham Capill]] was convicted as a child sex offender),<ref>((cite news |title=Capill sentenced to nine years for child sex crimes |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10335782 |date=14 July 2005 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=14 June 2010))</ref> [[Destiny New Zealand]], [[The Family Party]], and the [[New Zealand Pacific Party]] (whose leader [[Taito Phillip Field]] was convicted on bribery and corruption charges).<ref>((cite news |title=Guilty verdicts for Taito Phillip Field |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587391 |date=4 August 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=11 August 2009))</ref> The [[Exclusive Brethren#New Zealand|Exclusive Brethren]] gained public notoriety during the [[New Zealand general election, 2005|2005 election]] for distributing anti-Labour pamphlets, which former National Party leader [[Don Brash]] later admitted to knowledge of.<ref>((cite news |last=NZPA |title=Brash knew about Exclusive Brethren pamphlets |date=8 September 2005 |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10344635 |access-date=15 June 2010))</ref>

The two main political parties, [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] and [[New Zealand National Party|National]], are not affiliated with any religion, although religious groups have at times played a significant role (e.g. the [[Rātana]] movement and Labour<ref>((cite web |title=Rātana and Labour seal alliance |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/ratana-and-labour-seal-alliance |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |access-date=25 November 2023 |language=en-N |date=8 October 2021))</ref>). Politicians are often involved in public dialogue with religious groups.<ref>((cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/parachute-music-festival/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500869&objectid=10421364| title= Even politicians are popular at huge Christian music fest | work=The New Zealand Herald| date = 29 January 2007 ))</ref><ref>((cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10642345   |title=Hindu group accused of 'hijacking' other faiths |access-date=1 October 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=3 May 2010))</ref>

==Controversy==
In 1967, [[Presbyterian|Presbyterian minister]] and theologian [[Lloyd Geering]] was the subject of one of the few heresy trials of the 20th century, with a judgement that no doctrinal error had been proved. The [[Catholic Church in New Zealand]] had a number of its priests convicted of [[sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic diocese of Christchurch|child sexual abuse]], notably at [[Marylands School]]. Newspapers have also reported child sex abuse cases within the [[Exclusive Brethren]].<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_2975741">((cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2975741/Plague-of-sex-abuse-in-church-alleged |title='Plague' of sex abuse in church alleged |author=Hubbard, Anthony |date=18 October 2009 |work=[[The Sunday Star-Times]] |access-date=24 September 2011))</ref>

According to a 2019 survey, nearly four in ten New Zealanders lacked trust in Evangelical churches.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114838216/new-survey-reveals-which-religions-new-zealanders-trust-most--and-least--after-christchurch-shootings|title=New survey reveals which religions New Zealanders trust most – and least – after Christchurch shootings))</ref>

==See also==
((Portal|Christianity|New Zealand))
*[[National Statement on Religious Diversity]]
*[[Religion in New Zealand]]
*[[Christmas in New Zealand]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
((Reflist|group=note))

===References===
((Reflist))

==Further reading==
*((cite book|last=Ahdar|first=Rex|title=God and Government: The New Zealand Experience|publisher=University of Otago Press|location=Dunedin|year=2003))
*((cite book|last=Davidson|first=Allan K.|title=Christianity in Aotearoa : a history of church and society in New Zealand|publisher=Education For Ministry|location=Wellington|year=2004|edition=3rd|isbn=0-476-00229-X ))
*((cite book|last1=Davidson|first1=Allan K.|last2=Lineham|first2=Peter J.|title=Transplanted Christianity: Documents Illustrating Aspects of New Zealand Church History|publisher=Dunmore Press|location=Palmerston North|year=1989|edition=2nd))
* Harper, Tobia, "'Amen, Amen!'" ''New Zealand Journal of History'' (2008) 42#2 pp 133–153. Studies the impact of Christianity on New Zealand society in the 1920s 
*((cite journal|last=Hoverd|first=William James|year=2008|title=No Longer a Christian Country? – Religious Demographic Change in New Zealand 1966–2006|journal=New Zealand Sociology|publisher=Royal Society of New Zealand|volume=23|issue=1|url=http://www.ipp.org.nz/essudocs/sociology/nz233final.pdf|access-date=29 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524053242/http://www.ipp.org.nz/essudocs/sociology/nz233final.pdf|archive-date=24 May 2010|url-status=dead))

==External links==
((Commons category|Christianity in New Zealand))
*[https://teara.govt.nz/en/interdenominational-christianity Interdenominational Christianity] – ''[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]''
*[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/topics/n/new-zealand/ New Zealand topics] – ''[[Christianity Today]]''

((Religion in New Zealand))
((Oceania topic|Christianity in))

[[Category:Christianity in New Zealand| ]]

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