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Story: Diverse Christian churches

Dutch Reformed Church, Hamilton

Dutch Reformed Church, Hamilton

Most New Zealand members of the Dutch Reformed Church are Afrikaans-speaking migrants from South Africa. In 2011 the website for the Hamilton branch of the church was entirely in Afrikaans. This page of the website describes the origins of the church in New Zealand – a Bible study group in Hamilton in 1996, followed by the first Afrikaans-language service in a private house in May 1998. As more South African immigrants arrived in New Zealand, many joined a variety of local churches. Regular Afrikaans-language services began when a church leader, Dr Stefan Jobert, started monthly services in Auckland.

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Afrikaanse Christen Kerk Hamilton

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Diverse Christian churches – Lutheran, Dutch Reformed and Brethren churches, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/31111/dutch-reformed-church-hamilton (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 21 April 2011.

Comments

Emil
08 September 2023
Hello my name is Emil Pienaar, I am an afrikaans migrant. I live in Dunedin and I've been in New Zealand for 22 years. I was just wanting to as a question about the 3 sister churches as they were known. What is the Difference between NG Kerk, Gereformeerde Kerk en Herformde kerk. I have seen in New Zealand there are Reformed Churches and Dutch Reformed (Dominantly Afrikaans). Appart from the name could you explain the differences please.
Virginia Vandenberg Graver
05 February 2018
I am looking for the baptism recored for my father, Willis Edward Vandenberg the sone of Edward and Fannie 9Elzenaar) Vanden Berg. He was born on Feb. 18, 1910. Thank you for any help you can give me.