In New Zealand, just under half of the population at the 2013 New Zealand Census[1] declared an affiliation to Christianity. However, regular church attendance is probably closer to 15%.[2] Before European colonisation the religion of the indigenous Māori population was animistic, but the subsequent efforts of missionaries such as Samuel Marsden resulted in most Māori converting to Christianity.
New Zealand has no established church although Anglicanism is required to be the religion of the Monarch of New Zealand (who is described as "Defender of The Faith") and freedom of religion has been protected since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.[3]
More recently the number of adherents of non-Christian religions has increased dramatically, to near 6% in 2013. 41.9 percent of New Zealanders who answered the question on religion in the 2013 Census claimed no religious affiliation.[4]