Christchurch Diwali Opens Festival Season as Holi Draws 7,000 Across New Zealand
South Asian communities in New Zealand marked major festivals with growing public enthusiasm, as Christchurch kicked off its Diwali season in October 2025 and nationwide Holi events drew more than 7,000 people to Henderson in March 2026. The Waitakere Indian Association organised one of the country's most attended Holi gatherings, bringing thousands to Henderson Trust Arena for an afternoon of coloured powder, music, dance and food, while celebrations also took place in Tauranga's Memorial Park and other centres across the country. In Christchurch, the local South Asian community marked the start of the Diwali season in October with public festivities and festive dress, as covered by The Press. Together these events reflect the growing visibility and vitality of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand, from the South Island's largest city to Auckland and beyond.
Diwali Season Opens in Christchurch
The Press reported on Diwali celebrations kicking off in Christchurch on October 26, 2025, marking the Festival of Lights for the city's South Asian community. The newspaper covered the occasion with photographs of participants dressed for the event, including Dhwani Tupe and another attendee whose name begins with Sur, both of whom were pictured dressed for the Diwali occasion in Christchurch. The October 26 date represents a kicking off of the Diwali season, suggesting the event marked the opening of a broader series of festive activities for the local South Asian community. The Press, Christchurch's major regional newspaper, covered the Diwali celebrations in its NZ news section, reflecting the civic significance of the occasion for the Canterbury region. The image accompanying the article showed community members who had dressed in festive attire for the occasion, underscoring the cultural pride and public visibility of the celebration. The fact that The Press dedicated photographic coverage and a formal article to the Diwali kick-off in Christchurch points to the event's established place in the city's annual cultural calendar. Christchurch's South Asian diaspora has built a tradition of celebrating Diwali publicly, and the October 26, 2025 gathering continued that tradition in the city. The Diwali celebrations in Christchurch brought together community members in festive dress to mark the Festival of Lights in New Zealand's South Island, further establishing the event as a signature moment in the local diaspora calendar. [3]
Holi Brings Thousands Together Across New Zealand
More than 7,000 people attended one of Auckland's largest Holi celebrations in Henderson on Sunday, as South Asian communities across New Zealand marked the Festival of Colours. The event was organised by the Waitakere Indian Association, which drew thousands to Henderson Trust Arena for a day of coloured powders, music, dance and food. While several Holi celebrations were held earlier in March, festivities continued across New Zealand through the end of the month, with Tauranga's Memorial Park among the venues hosting colour events. Holika Dahan was marked on 2 March, where bonfires were lit to symbolise the victory of good over evil in keeping with one of the festival's central legends. Rangwali Holi, also known as Dhulandi, was celebrated on 4 March, with participants throwing coloured water or powder at each other as they sang, danced and enjoyed festive foods. The festival marks the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and is associated with multiple legends from Hindu tradition. One legend recounts the story of Prahlad and his aunt Holika, where Prahlad's devotion to Lord Vishnu saved him from the flames of a pyre, symbolising the triumph of faith and goodness over evil. Another legend revolves around the courtship of Lord Krishna and Radha, with Krishna playfully applying colour to Radha's face, beginning the tradition of smearing coloured powder during Holi celebrations. Holi festivities in Auckland usually begin with Krishna Holi, but in 2026 construction work on a temple meant Kumeu missed out on its customary celebrations. Many community groups across the country held their own Holi events throughout the month. [1]
Sources: [3] thepress.co.nz · [1] RNZ