Avneet Kaur, Auckland – Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has used a visit to Takanini Gurdwara on Sunday to speak about religious freedom, racism and the growing connection between Māori and Punjabi Sikh communities, saying people should be able to practise their faith and maintain their identity without fear of discrimination.
Davidson said the visit carried a personal connection for her, revealing that two of her grandchildren are Punjabi.
She said that family connection had deepened her understanding of Sikh culture and traditions, including Vaisakhi, and had also highlighted similarities between Māori and Sikh values.
Davidson drew parallels between Matariki and Vaisakhi, saying both reflected the importance of ancestry, community, renewal and responsibility towards future generations.
She also spoke about protecting the right of Sikhs to practise their religion openly, including respect for articles of faith associated with Sikh identity.
Her comments came as she addressed broader concerns about racism and discrimination, telling those gathered that abuse directed at Sikh communities should be challenged.
Davidson said the Green Party would continue to push back against racial and religious discrimination and support the right of communities to practise their faith freely.
She also praised the role of Takanini Gurdwara in reaching beyond the Sikh community and building relationships with other cultural and faith groups across South Auckland.
Davidson said those connections were important in creating stronger communities, particularly at a time when political and social debate around migrants, race and religion has intensified.
She also touched on migration, saying the Greens would continue to support what the party describes as fair pathways for migrants.
Food and community service also featured in her remarks, with Davidson pointing to the way shared meals and hospitality can bring people together across cultures.
Her visit also carried a broader political message around the role migrant communities play in New Zealand and the contribution Sikhs continue to make across business, community organisations and wider society.
Davidson is currently serving as Green Party co-leader alongside Chlöe Swarbrick.
At the heart of her remarks was a message of shared responsibility — that Māori, Sikh and other communities have a role in shaping the country inherited by their children and grandchildren.
Davidson said her own Punjabi grandchildren made that connection especially personal, reinforcing what she described as a shared interest in ensuring future generations grow up in a society where their culture, identity and faith are respected.
Source: Marama Davidson remarks during visit to Takanini Gurdwara
