Members of the Sikh community sought easier visa rules for parents and legal acceptance for their articles of faith as Chris Hipkins visited the Takanini gurdwara for the first time since he became the country’s leader.
The prime minister arrived at a heaving Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib to a warm welcome on the morning of August 6, 2023, as community members turned up in the hundreds at New Zealand’s largest gurdwara.
Dressed in a business suit and tie, Hipkins sported a bright orange head covering with Sikh insignia as a sign of respect. “People of all religions and cultures should feel at home here, it’s our home,” Hipkins told a packed Darbar Hall.
Standing near a column of devotees queuing up to pay obeisance before Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy scripture, the prime minster broached the sensitive topic of the five articles of Sikh faith, the five Ks– ‘kesh’ (hair), ‘kara’ (bracelet), ‘kirpan’ (short sword), ‘kachera’ (undergarment) and ‘kangha’ (comb).
The community has for long rallied for the New Zealand government to legally recognise these articles of faith, especially the kirpan that is easily perceived as a weapon, and Sikhs are often not allowed to carry it inside public premises.
“I know the five Ks are very important to the Sikhs,” Hipkins said. “There’s been some concern about the need to spread awareness about these articles of faith, particularly the kirpan.”
He said the ethnic affairs ministry headed by his colleague Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who accompanied him, was exploring options to resolve such concerns.
Ranvir Singh Lally greeting PM Hipkins
Before he delivered the speech, Hipkins met community leaders to discuss local issues. Senior Labour parliamentarians from the region accompanied the prime minister on the visit.
Labour’s candidate from Botany for 2023 general elections, Kharag Singh, was instrumental in organising Hipkins’ visit. He told The Indian Weekender that community leaders requested the prime minister to ease visa rules for parents of Kiwi-Indians.
“The community members suggested offering a 10-year visit visa to parents, with all health and peripheral expenses borne by the family. That way it is not a burden on the public exchequer,” he said.
Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand Spokesperson, Daljit Singh, welcomes Hipkins on the dias
Daljit Singh, Spokesperson of Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand, who co-organised the visit, thanked Hipkins for visiting the gurdwara.
“It is a matter of pride and great honor for the community that the prime minister made time to visit our place of worship and met community members. The huge turnout speaks to the appreciation the community has for this gesture.”
The prime minister also visited the Sikh Heritage School at the gurdwara complex, and he seemed pleasantly surprised to know more than 900 children were enrolled in the facility.
He also visited the nearby sports complex that his predecessor Jacinda Ardern inaugurated in 2021.
During his speech and his personal interactions with people at the gurdwara, the prime minister heaped praise on the community for its commitment to social work, especially during times of crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Earlier this year, the government honoured Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand with ‘Covid-19 Response Recognition Award’.
The society, comprising Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib Takanini and Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Otahuhu, was handed a lapel pin by Hipkins for its service in support of the national Covid-19 response.
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