Communities across New Zealand are coming together to celebrate Punjabi Language Week, a week-long festival showcasing traditional music, bhangra and giddha dance, and vibrant cultural performances.
Now in its sixth year, the celebrations highlight efforts to preserve and promote Punjabi, which has become the fastest-growing language in New Zealand.
According to the 2023 Census, the number of Punjabi speakers in New Zealand has grown by 45 percent since 2018, reaching nearly 50,000 people nationwide.
The increase reflects both immigration from India and Fiji as well as a strong effort by the diaspora to maintain and pass on their language and culture to younger generations.
The festivities began in Wellington, where the Wellington Punjabi Women Association hosted community activities featuring live music, traditional dance performances, and authentic Punjabi cuisine.
Sukhdeep Singh, chair of Singh Sports and Cultural Club and Akaal Riders NZ, which organised the celebrations told RNZ:
“By celebrating Punjabi Language Week, we ensure that our children learn the language with pride, strengthen intergenerational bonds, and share our rich culture with the wider community.”
Events are planned across New Zealand throughout the week, including libraries in Hastings and Napier hosting language workshops and cultural activities for families. The celebrations will continue in major cities including Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin, and Hamilton.
Navtej Randhawa, a trustee of the NZ Punjabi Multimedia Trust, told RNZ that the week is an important opportunity for the Punjabi diaspora to celebrate their roots and for the wider community to engage with Punjabi culture.
“Punjabi Language Week helps keep our language and rich traditions alive here in New Zealand.”
The week also features poetry readings, storytelling, language workshops, and traditional food stalls, providing an immersive experience of Punjabi culture.
Community leaders have emphasised the importance of promoting Punjabi in schools and public life to ensure the language remains a living, thriving part of New Zealand’s multicultural landscape.
Punjabi Language Week 2025 runs from 3 to 9 November, bringing together families, students, and cultural enthusiasts to celebrate one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing languages while sharing its vibrant culture with people across the country and abroad.
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