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''Synopsis:'' '''Christianity in [[New Zealand]]''' dates to the arrival of [[missionaries]] in the early 19th Century, and is the country's primary religion. A number of denominations are present, with none having a dominant position. Today, slightly more than half the population identify as Christian.
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* [[New Zealand]]
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==Main article==
===Statistics===
In the 2006 census, around 55.6% of those who answered the question on religion identified themselves as Christian. This gives a total of slightly over two million Christians in the country. The largest denominations were Anglicans (about 14% of the population), Catholics (about 12%), Presbyterians (about 9%), and [[Methodists]] (about 3%). Around 5% of the population identified themselves as Christian without associating themselves with any particular denomination.
====Trends====
Generally, the proportion of New Zealanders who identify as Christian is declining — the figure now stands at around half the census respondents, whereas in the 1991 census, it stood at around three quarters. If the decline continues at a similar rate, Christians will cease to be a majority within a decade.
====Geographic distribution====
The three largest denominations are found in all parts of the country, although certain patterns exist:
*Anglicans are strong in Christchurch (which was founded as an Anglican colony). They are also strong in most areas of the North Island outside Auckland and Wellington, and in most parts of the upper South Island. *Catholics are strongest in the major urban areas of Auckland and Wellington. They also have a significant presence in parts of Taranaki, in Kaikoura, and on parts of the West Coast. *Presbyterians are strong in Dunedin (founded as a Presbyterian settlement) and other parts of the lower South Island, reflecting heavy Scottish settlement in the area. *The city of Auckland, due to its high immigrant population, has the greatest range of denominations.
===Official status===
Christianity does not have any official status as a national religion in New Zealand. Queen [[Elizabeth II]], although [[Supreme Governor of the Church of England]], exercises this capacity in her role as monarch of Britain, not her constitutionally separate role as monarch of New Zealand. The [[Anglican Church in New Zealand]] (today a separate institution from its parent) is not an officially established church.
===Ecumenism and Cooperation===
There is very little sectarianism in New Zealand, and various churches commonly co-operate on issues of common interest. The main body working for cooperation and ecumenical relations across denominations is the [[Vision Network of New Zealand]], headed by [[Glyn Carpenter]]. Vision Network often submits on government policy and legislation relevant to the church in New Zealand, including the [[Civil Union Act 2004]] and the [[National statement on Religious Diversity (New Zealand)|National statement on Religious Diversity]]. Other groups promoting cooperation include the [[Uniting Congregations of Aotearoa New Zealand]], and church leaders have issued joint statements on a number of issues (for example, on the Iraq War).
===History===
The first Christian missionaries came to New Zealand at the start of the 19th Century. The [[Church Missionary Society]], an [[Anglican]] organisation, established a presence in New Zealand in 1814 with the permission and protection of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ng%C4%81_Puhi Ngā Puhi] chief [[Ruatara]]. This expedition was led by [[Samuel Marsden]]. Later missionaries brought other religious denominations — [[Jean Baptiste Pompallier]] played an important role in establishing [[Roman Catholicism]], and [[Presbyterianism]] was brought to New Zealand largely by Scottish settlers. The Maori people also created their own forms of Christianity, with [[Ratana church|Ratana]] and [[Ringatu]] being the largest.
