The Labour Party is getting religion. “For the first time in New Zealand’s political history the Labour Party has established the portfolio of Interfaith Dialogue in recognition of the unprecedented plurality of faiths and religious beliefs that exist today, and the significant role faith plays in the lives of many New Zealanders,” it says.
The policy paper targets believers of every stripe including Christians, and says the Party “recognises the importance of preserving the heritage of Christianity in New Zealand and acknowledges this as an important part of New Zealand’s cultural identity”.
The paper also makes mention of the role played by Bishop Pompallier at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to ensure “the several faiths (beliefs) of England, of the Wesleyans, of Rome, and also Maori custom shall alike be protected”.
According to the 2006 Census there are a total of more than 2 million Christians in New Zealand or 53.6% of the total population, 204,000 non-Christians or 5.4%, and 1.3 million people with no religion or 34.3%, with the remaining 7% of people either not stating, or refusing to answer or declare their status on religion.
Read the Labour Party’s Policy paper “Interfaith Dialogue”
Image: Marist Studies.org.