Lao in New Zealand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Centuries ago, the Lao lived in China. However, relentless pressure by the Chinese gradually forced them southward, and many settled along the Mekong River in the eighth or ninth century. When the Lao Kingdom was replaced by a communist administration during World War II, many Lao fled to Burma, Thailand and Laos.
For years, Laos was the battlefield for the conflicts of other nations, as well as the object of political competition between Russia, China and Vietnam. After years of invasions, a series of bloody land wars, and possession by the French, Laos entered good relations with its neighbors.
Most of the Lao who fled to New Zealand did so in the 1970s and 1980s when there was a great deal of unrest in their country. Laos is still under a tyrannical communist regime, so few will want to return. Many of those who left Laos are from ethnic minority groups.
The Lao in New Zealand live mainly in Auckland, Wellington and the suburbs nearby.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Lao people in New Zealand have been away from their homeland for decades, but they remain a separate community. Though their children are more comfortable with English than Lao, the community gathers at Buddhist temples to preserve their religion and culture. They have festivals where everyone eats their favorite foods from their Southeast Asian homeland.
The Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group, which began migrating southward from China in the first millennium after Christ, and which now politically and culturally dominate other Laotian groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

More than half of the Lao are Buddhists. Traditionally, young men enter village monasteries for about three months to study Buddhism. Lao Buddhists believe that right thinking, ritual sacrifices, and self-denial will enable the soul to reach nirvana (a state of eternal bliss) at death. They live in fear of their gods and constantly strive to appease them with religious chants, rituals and sacrifices. They also believe that existence is a continuing cycle of death and rebirth, a process known as reincarnation.
One third of the Lao are ethnic religionists, combining folk animism (belief that non-living objects have spirits) with Buddhism. They seek help through various supernatural beings and objects. Of major importance to them are the "territorial deities."


What Are Their Needs?

The Lao in New Zealand are still facing challenges. Those who migrated decades ago are integrated, while those who recently arrived still need job and language training. There is often conflict within immigrant families between the generations.


Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger among Lao people in New Zealand that will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Ask God to use the believers to share the love of Jesus with Lao and other Buddhist peoples in New Zealand.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Lao towards believers so they will be receptive to the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Lao in New Zealand.


References

http://www.asianz.org.nz/bulletin/growing-lao-wainuiomata
https://teara.govt.nz/en/laotians
https://www.facebook.com/Laotians-in-New-Zealand-412984825401568/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ZGVyTjwto


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lao
People Name in Country Lao
Pronunciation lao
Alternate Names Eastern Thai; Lào; Lao Boc; Lao Noi; Lao Wiang; Lao-Lu; Lao-Noi; Laotian Tai; Laotian Thai; Lum Lao; Phou Lao; Rong Kong; Tai Lao; Ts'un Lao
Population this Country 1,600
Population all Countries 3,958,000
Total Countries 11
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12989
ROP3 Code 105643
ROP25 Code 304598
ROP25 Name Lao
Country New Zealand
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Oceania
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country New Zealand
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Oceania
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
87.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.90 %)
4.00 %
Ethnic Religions
3.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
6.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Lao (1,600 speakers)
Language Code lao   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Lao (1,600 speakers)
Language Code lao   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Lao

Primary Language:  Lao

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1906-1967)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1926-1973)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1932-2012)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Lao Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Lao YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Lao YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Lao Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Cambodia Research Network 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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