00:00Music
00:29religious procession a chilling message shouted in the streets of New Zealand
00:35this is not India a Sikh parade in Auckland was disrupted and heckled on
00:42Saturday after a Christian group confronted participants sparking outrage
00:48and raising fresh questions about religious tolerance and extremism in the
00:54country video shared online shows members of a group calling itself true
01:00patriots of New Zealand confronting the Sikh community during a Naga Kirtan in
01:06South Auckland the group dressed in blue shirts bearing slogans like Kiwis first
01:14and keep NZ NZ performed a haka while holding a banner reading this is New
01:21Zealand not India police officers were seen positioned between both groups to
01:28prevent escalation the group has been linked to Brian Tamaki and his church
01:34destiny church a Christian fundamentalist movement Tamaki himself shared the video
01:41online writing this is our land this is our stand he warned that this is only the
01:49beginning drawing widespread criticism according to police around 50
01:56protesters blocked the road shortly after 2 p.m. in an apparent attempt to
02:02disrupt the parade authorities said officers acted swiftly calling in
02:08reinforcements and escorting Sikh participants along the remainder of their
02:13route to ensure safety and order police stressed that while protest is legal
02:20intimidation and threats to public safety will not be tolerated the Sikh
02:26community condemned the confrontation saying the event had all required
02:32permits in a statement the New Zealand Sikh youth explained that a Naga Kirtan is a
02:39peaceful cultural and religious procession often featuring free food for the
02:45public reflecting Sikh values of sharing and service they described the
02:51disruption as deeply distressing the Sikh youth group also criticized the use of
02:57the haka during the protest saying it stood in stark contrast to the non-violent
03:03nature of the religious event subscribe to one India and never miss an update
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