Young Muslim immigrants with a strong personal faith feel a deep sense of belonging to Aotearoa New Zealand despite assumptions to the contrary, according to a new Otago study.
The research from the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka has just been published in Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online.
Researchers surveyed 258 Muslim youth who had come to Aotearoa as either immigrants or refugees.
They found that not only did engaging in religious practices help Muslim youth feel closer to the Muslim community, having a strong personal faith also strengthened their sense of belonging within wider New Zealand society.
Lead author Dr Hussain Raissi undertook the research as part of his PhD at the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Otago.
Common stereotypes sometimes paint religious Muslim youth as outsiders or disengaged from wider society, and in overseas secular societies, Muslims who regularly attend mosques, observe Islamic dietary laws and dress codes can be labelled as "untrustworthy or radicalised", he says.
"This Otago research shows that young Muslims who feel strongly about their faith also feel deeply connected to this country.
"Some politicians and commentators fail to understand that multiple senses of belonging can exist simultaneously.
"A person can be both a devoted Muslim and a proud Kiwi."
The study explains that while New Zealand is increasingly becoming a secular society, its growing multicultural population and recognition of Māori spirituality in national symbols and ceremonies illustrate how spirituality is being harmoniously integrated alongside secularism.
Dr Raissi says instances of Islamophobia do remain a significant concern in New Zealand, such as instances of hostility towards women wearing the hijab, or the tragic Christchurch Mosque attacks of March 15, 2019 where 51 Muslims were killed during Friday prayers.
Despite this, the young Muslim immigrant participants in the study reported that undertaking daily prayers or attending mosque did not mean feeling less 'Kiwi'.
"For policymakers, this study demonstrates that embracing religious identity can serve as a resource for integration, rather than representing a challenge or threat," says Dr Raissi.
"When religious and cultural diversity is valued, young immigrants can feel a stronger sense of belonging."
He recommends policies that strengthen collaborative partnerships with faith communities by establishing dedicated channels for dialogue and participation in policy development.
"Provide resources to support faith-based community initiatives while safeguarding legal protections for religious expression in workplaces, schools, and public spaces.
"By recognising and valuing religious diversity, policymakers can promote genuine inclusion, where young Muslim New Zealanders feel they don't have to choose between their faith and their Kiwi identity."
Co-author and research supervisor Dr Mariska Kappmeier, from the Department of Psychology, says New Zealand is a country that relatively values diversity, and this research reinforces that when people feel accepted for who they are, they feel a stronger sense of belonging.
"The fact that young Muslims in this study felt connected both to their religious community and to New Zealand as a whole is a testament to the inclusive and welcoming environment we strive for in Aotearoa."
Publication details
Implications of religious salience and religious practices on the senses of belonging to the larger Aotearoa/New Zealand society and the Muslim community
Hussain Raissi and Mariska Kappmeier
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online
DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2025.2469622
