Scientology in New Zealand

Scientology has been established in New Zealand since 1955.[1]

The 2006 census gives 357 people affiliated to The Church of Scientology[2][3] although the Church claims that it has 5000 followers.[4] By the 2013 census the number claiming to be affiliated had dropped to 315 people.[5]

The church is registered as a charity[6] and Inland Revenue Department has granted charitable status to the church for tax purposes.[7] Marion Moffat is the chairperson of Church of Scientology of New Zealand.

In 1969 the government instituted a Commission of Inquiry into Scientology which resulted in the Dumbleton-Powles Report.

Censorship

In 2008 a protest against the church as part of Project Chanology was held in some parts of New Zealand by "Anonymous", a world-wide group that has concerns about internet censorship by Scientologists.[8]

See also

References

  1. The Dumbleton-Powles Report
  2. Statistics New Zealand: QuickStats About Culture and Identity, Table 28:Religious Affiliation Archived March 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 2006 New Zealand Religioud Affiliation Data (XLS file)
  4. Wall, Tony (2008-02-10). "The Faith Business". Sunday Star Times.
  5. "2013 Census totals by topic – tables". Statistics New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand. 10 December 2013.
  6. charities.govt.nz
  7. http://www.scientologytoday.org/News/2002/021224.htm
  8. Wall, Tony (2008-03-16). "Protesters bid to unmask Scientology". Sunday Star Times. Retrieved 2008-12-17.

External links


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