Buddhism in New Zealand

The first Buddhists in New Zealand were Chinese diggers in the Otago goldfields in the mid-1860s. Their numbers were small, and the 1926 census, the first to include Buddhism, recorded only 169. Buddhism grew significantly as a religion in New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s with the arrival of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees, coinciding with increased interest in Buddhist teaching from Western communities. They engage with local and national government over issues of concern to Buddhist communities, support their members administratively and promote dialogue and understanding between the rich diversity of traditions in the country. ==Demographics==

According to the 2006 Census, Buddhism constituted 1.4% of the population of New Zealand. It slightly increased to 1.5% in the 2013 census. Most of the Buddhists in New Zealand are migrants from Asia with significant New Zealanders converted to Buddhism ranging from 15,000-20,000.–35% of the total Buddhist population in New Zealand. The 2018 census counted 52,779 Buddhists in New Zealand. ==Contemporary Society==

According to a Survey done by Victoria University of Wellington in 2019, it was found that New Zealanders believe that Buddhists are the most trusted religious group in New Zealand. About 35 per cent of New Zealanders have complete or substantial trust in Buddhists. ==Buddhist temples==

There are many Buddhist temples and centres in New Zealand for New Zealand Buddhists to practice their religion, the largest being Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple New Zealand in Auckland. Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple South Island in Christchurch's Riccarton Road opened in 2007; it was designed by Warren and Mahoney. Closed after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the temple reopened in August 2016. The Bodhinyanarama Monastery in Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt was established in the 1980s, with the monastery complex constructed in 1992. Vimutti Buddhist Monastery was established near Bombay and Ararimu in rural southern Auckland Region in early 2000. Both monasteries belong to the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. Wat Lao Buddharam in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, was constructed by Laotian refugees in 1989, As of 2021, there are nine Thai Buddhist temples across the country. ==Gallery==

Fo Guang Shan Temple Auckland.jpg|Fo Guang Shan Temple, Auckland International Buddhist Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand 03.jpg|Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple South Island in Riccarton, Christchurch 20230218 172951 Ratanadipa Buddhist Temple.jpg|Ratanadipa Buddhist Temple, a Burmese Buddhist temple in New Lynn, Auckland Saint Ann Buddhist Temple 20240902 123602.jpg|Saint Ann Buddhist Temple in Mount Wellington, Auckland ==See also==