Auckland, ( Avneet Kaur )Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has used his visit to Takanini Gurudwara to praise the contribution of New Zealand’s Sikh community while also setting out National’s broader election message on the economy, crime, education and taxes.
Opening his address with “Sat Sri Akal”, Luxon thanked the Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand and those gathered for Sikh Children Day 2026, saying the event was important because it helped pass Sikh values, traditions and identity to the next generation.
He said communities had a responsibility to think about the kind of country they wanted their children and grandchildren to inherit, and described the Sikh community as making an “incredible contribution” to New Zealand.
Luxon praised Sikh New Zealanders for their work ethic, community service and contribution across the country, saying many had worked extremely hard to build lives here while helping keep businesses and communities running.
On behalf of his Government, he thanked the Sikh community for what it contributes to New Zealand and said the country’s success depended on people from different backgrounds having the opportunity to progress together.
Luxon said New Zealand benefited from strong democratic institutions, a talented population and communities willing to take personal responsibility and work hard.
His speech then shifted into National’s election message, with the Prime Minister saying the Government had spent the past three years trying to “fix the basics” and was now focused on “building the future”.
He argued that New Zealand’s economy was beginning to strengthen and pointed to recent economic growth figures, which National says compare favourably with Australia, the United States, United Kingdom and several other advanced economies. Treasury’s latest pre-election forecasts also showed an improved fiscal outlook, although debt and other long-term pressures remain.
Luxon also contrasted National’s record with the previous Labour government, blaming Labour for higher inflation, debt and deteriorating law-and-order indicators during its time in office.
On crime, he highlighted National’s claim that serious youth offending has fallen 26 percent, while ram raids and violent crime victimisation have also declined. Those figures form a central part of National’s campaign argument on law and order.
Luxon also spoke about racism and social cohesion, saying New Zealand should remain a country where communities respect one another and where racism is not tolerated.
Education featured in the address as well, with Luxon pointing to National’s changes in schools and saying the Government wanted better facilities, stronger achievement and more opportunities for young New Zealanders.
He closed by returning to one of National’s main election themes — tax.
Luxon told the gathering that voters faced a choice between what National describes as a potential Labour-led grouping proposing multiple new taxes and National’s commitment to introduce “no new taxes” if re-elected. National has repeatedly campaigned on that pledge, while the “nine new taxes” figure reflects its own aggregation of policies proposed across Labour and several other parties rather than nine Labour policies alone.
He again thanked the Sikh community for its contribution to New Zealand before concluding his address.
Luxon had earlier visited the Gurudwara’s Langar Hall, met and posed for photographs with members of the public, and later sat in the main hall listening to kirtan before speaking to the congregation.
Source: The NZ Today on-ground coverage
