‘No religion’ has risen sharply in Christchurch

Overall, 56 per cent chose “no religion” in Christchurch, and the surround districts of Selwyn and Waimakariri. The figures for the Christchurch suburbs of Beckenham, Huntsbury and New Brighton were between 65 per cent and 70 per cent.

Ten years earlier, only 42 per cent of people in the region stated that they had “no religion” in the census.

Poet, speaker and former broadcaster Gary McCormick has been a Lyttelton identity for 24 years. He said its very secular status is “no surprise”.

“There’s a counter-culture element in Lyttelton – there’s a lot of free thinkers and it’s always been that way,“ he said.

Lyttelton once had as many as six churches, but earthquakes destroyed three. Only the Anglicans re-established, bringing the old St Saviour’s Church back over the hill from Christchurch.

University of Canterbury Associate Professor Michael Grimshaw said that the 2023 census trend on religious belief is happening throughout the western world. Alongside a decline of institutional religion, there is an increased interest in evangelical religions among younger generations, as well as a rise in spirituality.

Those listing no religion are not necessarily atheists, Associate Professor Grimshaw said. He noted that more people are also being drawn towards alternative movements, including online spaces, that promote spirituality, wellbeing and mindfulness.

“We are seeing a shift from religion into spirituality. But being spiritual is not really being asked in the census. New Zealand is quite a new age country . . . .”

He added that for many migrant communities, their ethnic, cultural and religious identities are intertwined, and withdrawing from religion can mean loss of family and community.

Of the 32 per cent of people in Christchurch identifying as Christian in the 2023 census, Catholicism is the largest faith, due in part to immigration from the Philippines. The 49,000 local Catholics make up 8 per cent of the population.

Anglicans number 31,000 (5 per cent) and Presbyterians 18,000.

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Religion takes a back seat as secularism pulls ahead | The Press (By Liz McDonald/The Press – Subscription Required).