Visiting a Wellington Mosque
Recently I visited a Wellington Mosque in order to observe Friday prayers. It was my second visit there; the first in December 2020. Subsequently, I held a meeting with members of the community associated with that Mosque in order to learn more of them and of the successes and challenges experienced by them in settling into New Zealand. On all three occasions I had a very pleasant time, having been made to feel very welcome by everyone.
Muslims are as yet a small fraction of our total population, but their numbers increase every year. The total number of Muslims in New Zealand in 2018 was 57,276, up 24% from 46,149 in the 2013 census (Statistics New Zealand, 2022). Of course, our country is diverse and, in addition to Māori, Asians, Pasifika and Pakeha, our population statistics for 2018 included 70,330 people (or 1.5% of the total population) of Middle Eastern, Latin American and African origin (Ehinz, 2022). While New Zealand’s Muslim community is very ethnically diverse, it does include Maori, Pakeha and Pasifika.
Our Muslim people derive from some forty different countries. The majority are Asian. There is also a significant number of Muslims of varying ethnic backgrounds but who were born in New Zealand - around 23% of the Muslim community.
And so I joined a group of about ten Muslim men and two Muslim women for a wide-ranging and friendly conversation about their experiences as immigrants to New Zealand, and then for further discussion over a most enjoyable Egyptian lunch. Here is what I learned.
Who are New Zealand’s Muslims?
Many of the Muslim people of the Mosque that I visited came originally from Egypt, but in fact the community derives from many countries, including Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Mauritius, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Japan, East and South Africa, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, my friends emphasized that the majority of Muslims in the world of today are to be found in Asia.Our Muslim community in New Zealand is characterized by high levels of education. Several of those to whom I spoke work as IT professionals in Wellington, including employment in cyber security, banking solutions, enterprise architecture and payroll. Other occupations include working as General Practitioners, nurses, public sector analysts and other staff, human resources, politicians, chefs and business people. They also include people who work as librarians, in the police, the army, the
hospitality industry and in teaching, and one person who works in food industry certification. In addition, several of that community are here as international students.
Challenges faced by Muslim Immigrants
Many of the Muslim immigrants who attend that particular Mosque came to New Zealand because they saw this country as a great place in which to raise children and, in some cases, because of political or economic challenges in their home countries. New Zealand was perceived to be accepting of skilled migrants for employment and possibly more accepting of immigrants in a general sense than other countries such as Australia and Canada and those countries within the United Kingdom. In particular, a few had previously found it very difficult to gain even entry-level positions elsewhere; in Canada, for example.Differences in culture pose their own challenges for immigrants and one person told me that it took him and his family at least three years to settle down and feel part of the community.
Unfortunately, several Muslim children from this particular Mosque have experienced bullying from other children and one or two parents also reported bullying and discrimination from teachers. Several parents reported that young Muslim girls at school have become targets for bullying. In one case a Muslim parent told me of his daughter who had been bullied to the extent that the family decided to home-school their daughter.
Many of those with whom I spoke informed me that they had experienced or observed prejudice and discrimination. They noted low levels of awareness of Islam and of Muslim people among the wider New Zealand population. They did say, however, that the Christchurch massacre had made New Zealanders much more aware of the vulnerability of Muslims in a non-Muslim country and that conditions may have improved somewhat for Muslims since that event.
Muslims in Education and the Workplace
One of my interviewees expressed the opinion that, for education purposes, Islam is not necessarily a comfortable fit within an ‘ethnic’ or ‘immigrant’ group classification. Instead, it is a faith group. We can agree here, and this particular point has been made many times in western countries over recent years.Several parents expressed the opinion that New Zealand education is excessively relaxed at secondary level and one parent stated that the mathematics curriculum lags behind the equivalent curricula of other countries. He said that, while a relaxed approach may be appropriate at primary level, it can prove to be a waste of time at secondary school. They noted an emphasis on sports in local schools, rather than on academic achievement. They also felt that teachers are overwhelmed, experiencing many conflicting pressures, and sometimes cannot give their full attention to students.
However, they support and complement New Zealand’s approach to interacting with Muslims, both in general and in the education system, and they hope that we continue with a multicultural approach to everyday life and particularly within education.
Muslim parents believe that New Zealand schools do not educate students sufficiently about different cultures and religions. When they have attempted to communicate with schools the need for including diverse religions and cultures within the school curriculum, they have felt ignored and were disappointed that nothing changed. I agree wholeheartedly on the need to educate all schoolchildren about our diverse community, including our Muslim people.
Experiences in New Zealand’s workplaces have been mixed. Some of them described negative attitudes while others expressed appreciation for the acceptance and friendship that they had met with in their places of work. They believe that they and their children should feel free to pray and possibly have access to safe spaces in schools and workplaces. They ask for greater awareness on the part of employers but they know that change must come from leadership.
Other Challenges for Muslims
Challenges can arise in commerce and finance because Muslims are not allowed to engage in financial transactions that involve interest. Many Muslims arrive in New Zealand with sufficient money to put down the deposit on a home, but a conventional mortgage that charges interest each month cannot be utilized by a practicing Muslim.To charge interest from someone who is forced to borrow to meet essential consumption requirements is considered an exploitative practice in Islam. Charging interest on loans for productive purposes is also prohibited because this is not an equitable form of transaction.
Within the Health sector it seems that there is reasonable understanding of the requirement for Muslim women to cover up. They noted that there appears to be a need for greater numbers of highly-trained professionals in New Zealand’s health sector. However, current systems and procedures make it very difficult for highly-qualified and experienced health professionals from other countries, including Islamic countries, to emigrate and work here. Some of them have found it especially difficult to gain residency.
They also noted that waiting times for non-emergency challenges can be excessive – sometimes eight hours or more. They suggest some system of prioritizing non-emergency situations that require little time on the part of the health professionals (e.g. prescriptions for commonplace medicines) in order to reduce those very long queues.
Halal is an Arabic word which means "permissible" in English. For example, halal food adheres to Islamic law, as specified in the Koran. However, the group emphasized that Halal applies to more than foods. Halal also applies to medicines; for example, the presence of gelatin in certain medications poses a problem.
Muslims and New Zealand’s Refreshed Curriculum
Currently, New Zealand’s national primary and secondary curriculum is undergoing reform. Our refreshed curriculum asks that we have involvement in the life of our local marae. However, let’s get to know people of all backgrounds, including our Muslim people.We should mention our Asian, Pasifika, Islamic and other recent immigrant communities specifically in our curriculum. These groups constitute approximately 25% of the total New Zealand population and our Muslim community grows every year. They are Kiwis, just like the rest of us, but they are different and have their own world-views, beliefs, values and ethics, just as Asians and Pasifika people and their world-views are different from Pakeha and Māori and their world-views. In particular, Islam is of paramount importance in their lives.
Some class time on Te Reo and mātauranga Māori for both our Māori and non-Māori children will enhance their outlook and understanding of Māori people and culture. They should also spend class
time on Pasifika culture and language, Asian cultures and other immigrant cultures. Of course, the same applies to our Muslim cultures. New Zealand primary and early secondary students should learn about the countries, languages, cultures of origin and religions of our multicultural community.
Towards Greater Inclusion in New Zealand
Here are some ideas that would enhance inclusion within New Zealand.1. Cultural Education: To promote awareness, our education system should address world history and world religions. Education should include learning about customs, values and traditions, as well as the contributions of diverse civilisations, to New Zealand society.
2. Language Education: Offer language courses such as Arabic as an elective in schools in order to enable students to gain a better understanding of the language and culture. This initiative will help to break down barriers and promote communication and understanding between students from different backgrounds. We have well-educated people in the Muslim community who can run those classes.
3. Religious Studies: Offer courses on religions as part of the social studies curriculum, in order to provide students with understanding of different religions and to dispel myths and stereotypes.
4. Diversity Training: Train teachers and school staff in cultural competency, in order to ensure that they are equipped to work with diverse student populations and to promote inclusive classrooms.
5. Community Engagement: Work with community leaders and organisations to develop partnerships and programs that promote cultural understanding and integration. Programmes could include cultural festivals, guest speakers and other educational initiatives.
By incorporating such strategies, policymakers and leaders can help to create a more inclusive and welcoming education system that promotes understanding and celebrates diversity.
The Future of Muslims in New Zealand
How about a set of rules for the future of New Zealand?1. We work together towards the good of all New Zealanders
2. We ensure that all citizens of New Zealand enjoy equal social and political rights, and address
effectively any significant social and other problems, irrespective of ethnicity.
These rules include every man, woman and child in New Zealand and most certainly they include our Muslim people who must be accorded all of those rights that are given to everyone else, including the right of equal opportunity to gainful employment, the right of access to first-class education, the right to peaceful coexistence within our communities and the right to exercise Islam.
Perhaps we should not focus excessively on Muslims as migrants who we need to welcome and integrate into our country. Of course, we should welcome immigrants but we must also remember that they are people who are actually of our country.
Every person, including Muslim people, must count as equally important as everyone else and deserves both equal social, economic and political decision-making power and equal opportunity to achieve success and lead a fulfilling life. Let’s work towards equity and inclusion for our Muslim people by starting at primary and secondary education.
Our Muslim People enjoy Living in New Zealand
Here are some of the many reasons my Muslim friends gave me as to why Muslim people enjoy living in New Zealand:1. Freedom of worship
2. Freedom of expression
3. Relative absence of corruption
4. The compassion of Kiwis towards Muslims after the massacre at the Al-Nour Mosque on 15 March 2019
5. Existence of Islamic schools
6. Absence of police corruption
7. Free healthcare
8. Free education
9. Social welfare and a disabled persons benefit
10. New Zealand is a beautiful and peaceful country
11. New Zealand is a safe and friendly environment for families
12. New Zealand offers great career opportunities.
Finally, my Muslim friends emphasized how grateful and thankful the Muslim community is to New Zealand and how deeply they feel that they belong here. They told me again and again that they will do their very best to make this a better place for their children and for everyone’s children. They are kiwi and proud!
References
Ehinz (2022). Ethnic Profile: New Zealand has a diverse ethnic mix
https://www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/population-vulnerability/ethnic-profile/#:~:text=70.2%25%20European%20(3%2C297%2C860%20people),%25%20Pasifika%20peoples%20(381%2C640%20people)
Statistics New Zealand (2022). 2018 Census totals by topic – national highlights". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/2018-census-totals-by-topic-national-highlights-updated
Dr
David Lillis trained in physics and mathematics at Victoria University and
Curtin University in Perth, working as a teacher, researcher, statistician and
lecturer for most of his career. He has published many articles and scientific
papers, as well as a book on graphing
26 comments:
the problem with discussing anything related to islam critically is the risk of being labelled as *phobic, which makes it hard to hold rational debates.
most of the issues in assimilation & integration is more related to islamic 'culture' instead of religion, race or ethnicity. take the 'interest' debate as an example. refusal to participate in mainstream finance due to this religious restriction makes no sense in a country like NZ. over time, this only makes them worse off financially & feel cut-off from the society. same applies for 'insurance' - a basic social need for most of us, but prohibited in islam. then comes the need to impose rigid boundaries between men & women. a muslim woman would prefer to self-immolate instead of going to a male gynaecologist. a muslim father would prevent a male first responder from recuscitating his daughter. i'm sure there are more instance of social conflicts that make this culture clash uneasy to all parties.
i completely respect the freedom of an individual to practice their faith, but if that intentionally makes them a social outcast, the way out has to be worked out mutually.
Delightful and insightful piece David. I especially liked the effort you put into learning through face to face discussions and getting to know the people themselves.
Hi anonymous.
Not engaging in transactions that involve interest may make life more difficult for Muslims in western countries. Nevertheless, we can admire the ethics and morality behind that rule; in other words - do not take advantage of others.
David
Islamic law allows for interest to be charged as long as it's not called interest! For example, the bank buys the car you want and leases it to you; the lease expires when you have paid the car off (with 'administrative charges', of course).
There are always ways around these things with a bit of imagination. Muslims borrow as much as you and I and pay as much back. It just happens under different labels.
Education is usually highly valued by these countries. They - and others - would be watching achievement developments in NZ and might be reluctant to comment.
I am aware of an ex-pat NZ family from the UK who are here for a 1 year trial..... the children (11 and 9) consider they are 3 years behind in maths and insist on extra tuition to keep up.
The dumbing down of NZ is not a myth. Massive future implications.
A warm welcome can be deceptive. Maori can be welcoming onto marae. But it has not stopped them wrecking a legitimate public meeting about co governance. What real attitude is and what they are all striving for ultimately is a concern.
It is sad children are bullied. But if have to be ever wary of causing unintended offence, some reaction is likley.
There are several positive aspects of the article. First, the author took the time to visit a Wellington Mosque and engage with members of the Muslim community in a friendly and open manner, which demonstrates a willingness to learn about and appreciate diversity.
Second, the article highlights the high levels of education and the diversity of occupations among New Zealand's Muslim community, which is a positive reflection of their contributions to society.
Finally, the article acknowledges the challenges faced by Muslim immigrants, such as bullying and discrimination, but also notes that conditions may have improved somewhat since the Christchurch massacre, which shows a recognition of the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of society.
The author offers practical advice on how to implement the principles of ethical leadership in the workplace, which can be helpful for managers and leaders who want to create a positive and ethical work environment.
Overall, the article is well-written, informative, and provides valuable insights into the importance of ethical leadership in today's business world.
I appreciate the effort put in this article by Dr. David. a well put representation of the voices of the Muslim Community.
Indeed "Every person, including Muslim people, must count as equally important as everyone else and deserves both equal social, economic and political decision-making power and equal opportunity to achieve success and lead a fulfilling life".
"They are kiwi and proud!"
In Islam, the prohibition of interest (riba) is based on the belief that it causes harm to individuals and society. Interest is seen as an unjust way of making money because it allows the lender to earn money without taking any risk, while the borrower has to bear the risk of the loan. This can lead to exploitation and inequality, as those who are already wealthy can use their money to make more money through interest, while those who are struggling financially may become trapped in debt.
Islam encourages trade and investment, but it requires that these activities be conducted in a fair and ethical manner. In Islamic finance, profit and loss sharing (PLS) is used instead of interest. This means that instead of lending money at a fixed rate of interest, the lender and borrower share the profits or losses of the investment. This approach aligns the interests of both parties and encourages risk-taking and innovation, while also promoting social and economic justice.
Overall, the prohibition of interest in Islam is based on the principle of fairness and social justice, and is aimed at promoting a just and equitable economic system.
Hi David,
You have pointed out some real issues like bullying in the schools which leads to home-schooling.
You have nicely depicted the diversity, that muslim doesnt only mean Arabs. People need to respect and acknowledge that diversity. Muslims in general represent a great number of population from accross the globe. There should be more awareness for sure. People need to be educated.
Thank you
That's a great article and firmly supported by hearing to people from the Muslim community.
It hit it on the head when it mentioned the need to appreciate and understand the differences between the ethnic groups and the faith groups. While Muslims belong to very diverse ethnicities, they all hold a common faith. My personal opinion is that the government is not saving effort in cherishing the diversity wrt to the different ethnicities; however, it fails short in its support and inclusion for different faith groups.
Keep it up David.
Education in New Zealand needs a big change otherwise we will left behind from the considerable countries
Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. “Islam” simply means peace through submission to God. For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life.
Islam is not a culture.
Almost two billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe – from the southern Philippines to Nigeria – are united by their common Islamic faith.
New zealand as a multi cultural country should be well prepared for her kiwi Muslims with education and laws to let them feel welcome and understandable as everyone else.
Great effor and true analysis
Very interesting and informative article. Worth reading.
Thank you so much David, we hope that many people can read this article and appreciate the fact that Muslim people are kiwi, real everyday kiwi 👍
Here are some examples of contributions that Muslim individuals and communities have made to New Zealand:
Business and Economy:
The Halal Industry Development Corporation of New Zealand was established in 2012 to support the growth of the halal industry in New Zealand, which contributes over $3 billion to the country's economy.
Muslim entrepreneurs have established successful businesses in a range of industries, including food, fashion, and technology. For example, the Muslim-owned business Ika Bowl, which serves poke bowls made with sustainable seafood, has become a popular dining destination in Auckland.
Muslim educators have established educational institutions that promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. For example, the Centre for Islamic Studies and Research at the University of Auckland conducts research and outreach activities that aim to improve understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Healthcare:
Muslim healthcare professionals have made significant contributions to New Zealand's healthcare system. For example, Dr. Abdullatif Al-Khal, a Muslim doctor, was the first person in New Zealand to perform a successful heart transplant in 1988.
Muslim healthcare professionals have also established organizations that provide healthcare services to underserved communities. The Muslim Association of Canterbury, for example, established a mobile clinic that provided free medical care to earthquake survivors in Christchurch.
Politics:
Muslim politicians have played an important role in New Zealand's political landscape. For example, Dr. Ashraf Choudhary was the first Muslim to be elected to New Zealand's parliament in 2002. He served as a member of parliament for over a decade and held various government roles, including Minister of Statistics and Associate Minister of Agriculture.
Muslim politicians have also advocated for the rights and interests of all communities in New Zealand. For example, Golriz Ghahraman, a Muslim member of parliament, has advocated for refugees and asylum seekers, and has spoken out against and racism.
Social and Cultural Contributions:
Muslim communities have introduced new foods and cultural traditions to New Zealand. For example, during Ramadan, Muslims in New Zealand organize iftar dinners, where they break their fast with friends and family and share traditional foods like dates and samosas.
Muslim artists and musicians have also contributed to New Zealand's cultural landscape. For example, musician Moana Maniapoto incorporates traditional Māori and Pasifika rhythms into her music, and has collaborated with Muslim musicians to create new works that celebrate cultural diversity.
What amazing article. if we get support for Islamic education, the live in New Zealand would be much better and many Muslim experts and professionals will think definitely to move and contribute in NZ. Islamic education is one of my big concern here in NZ. Honestly, i was thinking to move Australia because the Islamic environment is much better there. I really wish if our beloved New Zealand becomes like that.
I love reading about different cultures!
Hi Abdel.
The New Zealand curriculum is currently being revised. I think that there is a great opportunity to make a submission to the Ministry of Education for more teaching and learning about the diverse peoples in our multicultural nation - including our Islamic people.
Certainly, within our schools we need greater exposure to cultures such as those from which our very diverse Islamic community derives.
We can achieve it if the Ministry listens and, when we do, everyone will appreciate each other's needs and differences better and we can grow more and more inclusive and embracing. But in an inclusive nation, we can and should still hold on to our unique identities - our values, customs and our beliefs. For Muslims, as I said in the article, Islam is of paramount importance.
I have got to know many Muslim people over the last few years and I have found them to be kind and ethical.
Cheers,
David
Great article and worth of reading. Yes Muslim community’s needs help and support specially to build masjid (mosques), prayer room in shopping center, offices, airports, schools and other facilities.
Perfect description of current situation and clear road map for the future. Thanks a lot.
Regarding financial processes, I saw a comment saying it's only about naming which is not true, Islamic financing is different and that's why you can see it implemented in the States, Australia and other European countries.
Very nice article . Thank you for taking the initiative to share this information.
Yo this is pretty cool!! Thanks you may God bless you😎😎
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