Beyond belief

Is religion on the path towards extinction in New Zealand?

- Bob Brockie

I look forward to next year's census data to see what has happened to our religions over the past five years.

The last census, in 2018, revealed that the number of New Zealanders with no religion - just under half the population - outnumbered Christians for the first time. Empty churches continue to be sold and turned into bars, restaurants, art galleries and homes throughout the country. If past trends continue, the new census will show even more Kiwis with "no religious affiliation".

According to the Census data, the number of Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians and Methodists has shrunk over the past 20 years, but devotees of smaller religions have grown. We now have about 120,000 Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Born-again Christians and 18,000 Seventh-day Adventists.

In 2018 we had 157 types of faith, including 123,000 Hindus, 60,000 Muslims, and 41,000 Sikhs. These religions had all grown since the previous census. But atheists (those who disbelieve in the existence of a god or higher being) and agnostics (who sit on the fence) also grew, with 7.5% of New Zealanders ticking those boxes.