Hindi in New Zealand

Introduction / History

Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese, English and Spanish. If one considers the fact that Urdu and Hindi are mutually intelligible, it is the third. Hindi is one of the two official government languages of India along with English. Hindi is spoken by more than half of billion people. It is the primary language across what is known as the Hindi Belt from west to east central India. Many Hindi speakers left India during the period of the British Empire. In the second half of the 20th century, some Hindi speakers have migrated to the Pacific Island nation of New Zealand. New Zealand became a colony in the British Empire in 1841. In the year 1947 New Zealand became an independent country retaining the British monarch as head of state. The indigenous Maoris are the biggest minority followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. Many of the people of Asian descent in New Zealand speak Hindi as their family language.

What Are Their Lives Like?

New Zealand has a highly developed economy. Sources of income include agriculture, logging, tourism, manufacturing and gold mining. There is an old joke about there being more sheep in New Zealand than people. Wool and mutton continue to contribute to the economy today. There is a wide diversity among the Hindi speakers who have departed their homeland of central India. They range from the most educated high, caste Brahmins to tribal peoples. Most of the Hindi people in New Zealand fit into the middle class as shop keepers, owners of restaurants and small businesses. Many also work in retail, trade and finance. Some professionals in medicine, science, engineering, and information technology are some of the highest paid people in New Zealand. The father is the head of the Hindi home. The mother takes care of the children and domestic responsibilities. More and more Hindi women work full time outside the home. Parents strongly encourage their children to marry within their people group and faith. They also want their children to obtain college and professional degrees. Some Hindi speak their own language at home and English on the job and with their neighbors. Some Hindi families now use English at home while the parents at the same time want their children to retain their distinctive Hindi culture.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The large majority of the Hindi speakers in New Zealand practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Hindis visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Hindi people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. Many Hindis in New Zealand also celebrate Christian holidays. A tiny fraction of the Hindi people is evangelical Christians.

What Are Their Needs?

The Hindi people need to understand that Jesus is not another Hindu god or guru. He is the Lord and Savior of the world. The Hindi people must come to comprehend that they are sinners before a holy and righteous God. Only Jesus can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray for an opening of spiritual understanding among all Hindi people. Ask the Lord to lead Christ followers and churches in New Zealand to reach out and build friendships with the Hindis. Pray that the small number of Hindi Christian believers will be a light for the other Hindi people. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Hindis in New Zealand towards Christ so that they will be receptive to the gospel. Pray that the Lord raises up a Disciple Making Movement among the Hindis of New Zealand in this decade.

Text Source:   Joshua Project