ACT wants wider religious choice for police recruits when taking oath

Graduates hold the Bible during the oath-taking ceremony.
photo: Provided by/Police

ACT ethnic communities spokesman and Indian MP Parmjeet Parmar has asked the government to give Royal New Zealand Police College graduates more choice in the religious texts they use when taking their oaths.

“Under current law, only those who are willing to swear on a Bible can swear on a religious text,” Palma wrote to Police Minister Mark Mitchell on July 30. “This seems inconsistent with the multicultural makeup of the modern police force.”

Palma said there are several options for the scripture chosen when taking an oath in parliament or the judiciary.

“Former judge Ajit Swaran Singh took the oath holding the Sikh holy book when he was appointed to the Manukau District Court in 2002,” Parmar said on Tuesday.

Under parliamentary rules, new MPs must take an oath before they can speak, attend meetings, vote or serve on committees.

According to guidance on the New Zealand Parliament’s website, MPs can take an oath of allegiance or an affirmation. The oath-taker can do so with a Bible or other sacred book, or in any other way they claim to be binding.

In 2002, former Labour MP Ashraf Choudhary took the oath holding the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

“I know of police graduates who have asked to take an oath in other religious texts but were instructed to take the standard police oath,” Palma said.

“It’s safe to say that if given the opportunity, more graduates would take the oath holding a religious text related to their own faith,” she said.

“I have drafted a bill to expand the existing range of religious texts to include the Bible, New Testament, Old Testament, Bhagavad Gita, Quran, Holy Quran, etc,” she said.

“I have asked the government to take this step to avoid delays and uncertainty in the process for MPs to vote.”

Police told ACT MP Todd Stephenson earlier this year they receive at least one request a year for someone to take the oath using a religious text other than the Bible.

“Our practice is that new officers who graduate have two options: they can choose to take the oath of office on a Bible or they can take the confirmation of the constable,” said Nessa Lynch, then the Royal New Zealand Police College’s director of academics.

“We received one such request in 2023, and an average of one per year in previous years. These graduating new police officers have been recognized by the police officers.”

Police have pledged to review procedures for oaths and declarations to ensure all legislative requirements are met.

“I haven’t determined when the review will be concluded,” Lynch said in January.

Palma said legislation is needed to address the problem.

“While (the proposed amendment) is only a small change, the issue is even more important now as the government is looking to boost police recruitment,” she said.

“Given the recent decision to open up police recruitment to residence visa holders, which could attract officers of different faiths, … the current oath rules could send an unwelcome message.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell told ABC New Zealand he would consider the proposal after returning from an overseas trip next week.