New Zealand has a number of unique features in its demographics, culture and sub-cultures, and dominant worldview.
Demographically New Zealand is still dominated by those of European (Anglo Saxon) heritage. Having said that, many identify themselves simply as “New Zealanders” rather than European New Zealanders. There are also a strong and growing Maori. Polynesian, and Asian populations. Maori are, of course, the Tangita te whenua (people of the land). Being Maori is more than having as part of your “blood” some Maori blood it is also the self-identification as Maori (sometimes over and above that of a European blood-line). Usually, there is a sense of belonging to a particular iwi or iwis (tribes).
Changing Demographics in New Zealand
(numbers from 2001 and 2006 census on www.stats.govt.nz)Also important is that the distribution of ethnicities is not evenly spread throughout the country. Auckland is much more “multi-cultural” than, for example, Dunedin.
From an apologetics point of view the re-emergence of Maori beliefs into the public sphere over the past 20 years and the growth in “Asian” numbers has provided some new challenges.
New Zealand, like most western countries, also has an ageing population.
A significant marker of the change in thinking of the New Zealand population is the rise in numbers of those who signify “No Religion” in the official Census. This number now stands at 1.3 Million out of a population of 4.1 Million (ie 31.1%). The percentages are much higher for the younger age groups.
(numbers from census data on www.stats.govt.nz and also some older reports and census prior to when "no religion" was an official option on the census)Some other statistics that help paint the picture of New Zealand are:
1. Suicides: 4th highest rate for females in the OECD, 6th highest for Males. The highest rate of teen suicide in the OECD. But, in the 15-24 age group New Zealand has the highest rate of suicides.
2. Teen pregnancies: Third highest rate of Teenage pregnancies in the OECD
3. Abortions: Second highest rate in the OECD
4. Income per capita : 21st in OECD
(This data has been gleaned from reports by Statistic NZ and the OECD health data reports - the latest being 2006)
Dominant Philosophies
Here are a few that come to mind…
Radical Individualism – in particular the relegation of religion to the private sphere.
Aggressive secularisation – a long history of separation of Church and State and of a secular education system. Some recent political debates have resulted in the use of the term “[right wing] fundamentalists” as a derogatory term. Furthermore, it has been used as a label for all who oppose certain proposals (such as the bill to “ban smacking” of children) despite much of the opposition as not coming from Christians at all.
Multi-culturalism and Pluralism - perhaps the worst “insult” for a New Zealander is to be labelled a “racist.” Passive “tolerance” of other cultures and belief systems is considered a “must have” value. More recently, “celebrating diversity” is required (I recently saw in the position description for a research position in the Health Sciences division of a University the following as the first “personal characteristic” that was required “Tolerance – acceptance, indeed celebration of diversity in relation to ethnicity, culture, values, religion and life choices.”). Pluralism has worked to maintain the public-private divide by reinforcing individualism
A Peculiar History
(this is paraphrased from some research I undertook about 10 years ago on the private nature of belief in New Zealand)
New Zealand is not merely a product of a few dominant philosophies, but is a society influenced by a past. New Zealand’s past is dominated by a complex weave of cultures, especially British colonial (Pakeha) and resident Maori cultures. Polynesians and Asian cultures have exerted an influence in recent times.
The Pakeha Influence
New Zealand was one of the last British colonies to be settled. The early settlers were predominantly male, from lower social classes, and, less likely to be church attendees than the British population as a whole. The male domination lasted till after the first world war and contributed to the “Kiwi bloke” ideal – which included the idea that anything that touched the emotions, including religion, was very much kept to oneself. The “Kiwi bloke” ideal is still aspired to by many New Zealand males and the “privatisation” of emotions is still the norm.
Out of necessity there was a tendency for different religious groups to mix much more in New Zealand than they did in Europe. This appears to have led to a more pluralistic Christianity where there was more tolerance of beliefs than in Europe.
As a frontier society it proved difficult to establish churches. Two attempts were made to establish religious settlements, Dunedin (Church of Scotland) and Christchurch (Church of England). Both failed due to small numbers, distances to Britain too far for support, and the need for people of all religious persuasions to work together to make the settlements viable. Also, NZ was predominantly rural and communities widespread. The building of churches and presence of clergy had to wait until farms had been established.
The first political structures established a clear separation between church and state. The very first debate of the NZ House of Representatives concerned the question of whether or not there should be prayers to open parliament. Some members were concerned that this would suggest an established state church. The compromise was that the speaker of the house, not a clergyman, stated the prayer. The House’s first resolution was to “… assert the privilege of a perfect political equality of all religious denominations.” Thus, New Zealand was established as a pluralistic society.
In 1877 a secular clause was put in the Education Act to prevent any one denomination pushing its own barrow in the schools. Later this was interpreted as religious neutrality.
Also in the 1870s the right to object to the question concerning religious profession was introduced into the census.
World War One was particularly harsh on New Zealanders with proportionally more men killed or wounded than any other country (25% of men under 45). In recent years commemoration of the soldiers sacrifice has taken on a strong significance on one day a year (ANZAC day).
Following the baby boom after WW II there has been a significant drop in adherence of Christian denominations. Church attendance rates dropped from about 20% to about 10% during the 1960s and 70s. This drop was mitigated somewhat by a rise in Polynesian immigration from strong Christian island nations. The 1960s and 70s was also one of the most prosperous times for the country.
Maori Influence
Maori had no organised religion, but the whole culture was suffused by wairua (spirits) of the gods.
In the 1830s a large proportion of Maori were converted to Christianity. Later in the century Maori numbers were so small it was thought the race would die out. This did not happen, and there is a renaissance in Maori language and culture today. Many are identifying themselves as Maori (first) irrespective of the percentage of Maori DNA they may have. This renaissance has included a renaissance of some of the Maori beliefs about the wairua.
Contemporary society
New Zealand society is a-religious. There are few public vestiges of Christianity. Those that are there are being pushed out.
Religion is not usually discussed in public unless it is in relation to “intolerance of fundamentalists.” The beliefs of public figures are not relevant as long as they are not “pushing them down my throat.”
Churches are very disunited and have been unable to present a united front on public issues. Recently, they have even marched in opposition to each other.
In the last two decades the numbers of those claiming “No religion” have tripled. This does not automatically translate to a disinterest in things spiritual – to the contrast there is a strong interest in things Eastern and New Age where practices are in the privacy of one’s own home.
Interestingly there is some public debate at the moment about prayers in parliament.
