A referendum organised by the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) at Auckland's Aotea Square on Sunday, called for an independent Sikh homeland. The event in New Zealand has faced backlash from the Indian community.

Citing New Zealand's dedication to free speech, local authorities approved the referendum. Cooperating with the organisers and pertinent authorities, a police spokesperson stated that precautions had been taken to guarantee public safety, according to NewsX. Nonetheless, the event drew criticism from Indian diaspora groups which cautioned that it may lead to conflict and disturb social cohesion. The New Zealand Indian Central Association's president, Narendra Bhana, emphasised the value of solidarity and alertness against "foreign influences" that would jeopardise national harmony.

“The Indian community here in New Zealand is united in its stance to reject all such external influences that may not align with the values of community and respect integral to the diverse cultures in this country,” Bhana had said earlier. New Zealand’s Sikh community, representing approximately one percent of the nation's population, is divided over the Khalistan issue. While a portion of the community backs the cause advocated by SFJ, many others, including local Sikh organisations, are distancing themselves from the movement.

Dr Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, the founder of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and head of the Council of Khalistan, declared that more than 37,000 votes had been cast in the referendum, which was run by the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar brought up the issue with New Zealand's foreign minister Winston Peters during their November 6 meeting on the fringes of the Raisina Down Under Conference in Canberra, following the SFJ's announcement of the event in New Zealand. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a secessionist group that has previously conducted similar ‘referendums’ in cities across Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, has been banned in India since 2019.

The group had previously announced plans to hold its next so-called Khalistan referendum on July 28. In reaction to this, India raised its concerns with Ottawa about the use of Canadian territory for such separatist activities. India also expressed disapproval of the referendum's location, which was a public area—more precisely, a municipal building. India's High Commission in Ottawa formally communicated these concerns to the nation's foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada.