Wellington’s a windy melting pot—always has been. From the Māori who’ve called it home for centuries to the settlers who rolled in during the 1840s, the capital’s got layers of faces and stories. On March 16, 2025, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took to LinkedIn to give a shout-out to one slice of that mix—the Indian community, New Zealand’s third-biggest ethnic group. At One Network Wellington Live, we’re digging into what that means for Wellington. Who’s ahead of them at #1 and #2? How’s the Indian crew shaping our city? Let’s wander through the streets—from Thorndon to Tawa—and find out.

Luxon’s Post

Luxon’s post wasn’t shy. “The Indian community is the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand,” he wrote, “and I’m proud to celebrate their incredible contribution to our country.” He’d just met Wellington’s Indian crowd at an event—probably somewhere like the Kilbirnie Community Centre, where curry smells and Bollywood beats often spill out. He talked up their hard yakka—businesses, tech, healthcare—and their knack for bringing colour to Kiwi life. It’s a fair call. In Wellington, you can’t miss the Indian vibe—samosas at the Thorndon Fair, Diwali lights on Cuba Street, or the hum of Hindi in Newtown’s takeaways. But who’s topping the ethnic charts ahead of them?

Statistics

Stats tell the tale. Based on the 2018 Census—still the backbone for 2025 guesses—Pākehā, or European Kiwis, are #1. They’re about 70% of New Zealand’s 5 million—roughly 3.5 million folks. In Wellington, that’s your Thorndon old-timers, Karori families, and CBD suits—descendants of British settlers mostly, with a sprinkle of Dutch or German. Māori are #2, clocking in at 16.5%—around 830,000 nationwide. Here, they’re Te Āti Awa and others, rooted in Pipitea, Porirua, and beyond, with a proud history stretching back to Kupe. The Indian community’s #3, at 4.7% in 2018—about 240,000 then, likely pushing 300,000 by 2025 with immigration humming. Wellington’s got a chunk of that—over 20,000, some reckon—making our streets a bit spicier.

Impact in Wellington

Luxon’s post hit a nerve in Wellington. He popped into Avondale Markets that Sunday—technically Auckland, but he’s Botany’s MP, so he’s got a Wellington lens too. He met stallholders like Aitken and his wife, who slog it out weekly. “They show up at the crack of dawn and work very hard,” he wrote. That’s the Indian crew Wellington knows—tuk-tuks parked by the Hutt Road, taxi drivers dodging wind on The Terrace, or families running dairies in Khandallah. Luxon’s not wrong—they graft. In Miramar, you’ve got Bollywood Star dishing butter chicken to film crews. In Johnsonville, Indian grocers stack spices next to the Four Square. They’re part of the city’s fabric—#3, sure, but punching big.

Pākehā Community

Who’s #1 in Wellington? Pākehā rule the roost—about 75% of the city’s 215,000 souls in 2018, call it 160,000. They’re the backbone—old villas in Kelburn, flats in Te Aro, suits grabbing flat whites on Lambton Quay. They’re the settlers’ kids—British stock from 1840, when the New Zealand Company dumped them on Thorndon’s flats. They built the Beehive, ran the port, and still fill the council chambers—think Mayor Tory Whanau’s Pākehā side or Councillor Nicola Young. They’re not loud about it—Wellington’s too chill for chest-thumping—but they’re the majority, shaping the city’s bones with quiet grit.

Māori Community

Māori hold #2—around 14% here, roughly 30,000. They’re the originals Те Āti Awa’s been at Pipitea since the 1820s, fishing the harbour before it was reclaimed. They’re in Porirua’s marae, Hataitai’s kapa haka groups, and the Wainuiomata hills. Wellington’s Māori pulse beats strong—think Te Papa’s taonga or the carvings at Pipitea Marae, where Luxon’s likely ducked in for a cuppa. They’re not just history—councillors like Tamatha Paul (Ngāti Awa) and kids at Thorndon School keep the culture alive. Number two, but first in the land’s story—Wellington wouldn’t be Wellington without them.

Indian Community

Then there’s #3—the Indian community Luxon’s cheering. They’ve been trickling in since the 1800s—Punjabi traders, Gujarati merchants—but the real wave hit post-1990s, when immigration opened up. By 2018, they were 4.7% nationwide; in Wellington, they’re closer to 10% now—over 20,000, some say, though 2025 Census data’s not out yet. Johnsonville’s got curry houses, Newtown’s got Bollywood blaring, and Kilbirnie’s Indian takeaways feed the eastern burbs. Luxon’s right—they work hard. Nurses at Wellington Hospital, coders in the CBD, stallholders at the Sunday markets—they’re everywhere, adding cumin to the Kiwi stew.

Contributions to Wellington

What’s their mark on Wellington? Food’s the obvious one. You can’t walk Cuba Street without sniffing masala—Chaat Street’s pakoras or Higher Taste’s veggie curries keep the punters happy. Diwali’s a banger—last October, TSB Arena glowed with lanterns, and kids scoffed jalebis while aunties danced. Business-wise, they’re hustling—dairies, taxis, IT startups in Petone. Wellington’s tech scene—Xero, Sharesies—leans on Indian coders, plenty from Gujarat or Bengaluru. Healthcare too—doctors at Kenepuru Hospital often hail from Delhi or Mumbai. Luxon’s post nails it: “incredible contribution”—they’re keeping the city ticking.

Cultural Integration

Pākehā at #1 set the stage—built the roads, the port, the cable car. Their legacy’s in the villas on Tinakori Road and the suits dodging wind on Bowen Street. Māori at #2 gave Wellington its soul—names like Te Whanganui-a-Tara (the harbour) and stories of Kupe’s canoe echo in the hills. The Indian crew at #3 bring the spice—literally and figuratively. In Thorndon, a dairy run by a Patel family’s been there 20 years—same spot Pākehā built, Māori fished nearby. In Tawa, Indian takeaways sit by Māori carvings at the community centre. It’s a mash-up—Wellington’s strength.

Political Influence

Luxon’s visit stirred the pot. He didn’t just chat markets—he’s pushing a National Party line: celebrate diversity, sure, but keep it practical. “Hard work” is his buzzword—fits Wellington’s Indian crowd, who aren’t flash but get stuck in. He’s not mayor—council’s Tory Whanau’s gig—but his nod matters. Wellington’s council elections loom in October 2025, and diversity’s a hot topic. Rates are up, pipes are knackered—will the Indian vote swing it? They’re big in Johnsonville and Newtown—wards like Northern and Eastern. Candidates like Ray Chung or Graham Bloxham might court them with “no waste” pitches—Indians here hate overpriced rates as much as anyone.

Future Trends

How’s Wellington’s mix looking in 2025? Pākehā still dominate—#1’s not shifting. About 160,000 of us, running the show from Kelburn to the waterfront. Māori’s #2—30,000 strong, growing a bit with urban drift to Porirua and Lower Hutt. The Indian community’s #3—20,000-plus here, maybe 300,000 nationwide, climbing fast. Luxon’s post hints at more—immigration’s steady, and Wellington’s a magnet with tech jobs and uni at Massey. Behind them? Samoans at #4 (3% nationwide), Chinese at #5 (2.9%)—both big in Porirua and Hataitai, but smaller fry in the city proper.

Community Impact

The Indian crew’s not just numbers—they’re Wellington’s buzz. At the Thorndon Fair, their stalls—saris, spices—pull crowds. Diwali’s bigger every year—2024 saw 5,000 at the waterfront, fireworks rivaling Guy Fawkes. In Kilbirnie, Bollywood nights pack the community hall—kids and grannies grooving. Luxon’s right—they graft. Taxi drivers brave the wind on Willis Street, nurses clock night shifts, coders debug at 2 a.m. in Petone. Pākehā built the city, Māori named it, but Indians are wiring it up and feeding it curry—#3 with a punch.

Wellington’s Unique Environment

Wellington’s quirks amplify it. The wind’s a beast—blows dust into every nook, but Indian takeaways on Courtenay Place still thrive. Damp flats in Aro Valley? They’re cooking biryani to warm up. Quake-prone buildings—like those 575 shakers—house Indian families who shrug and keep going. Luxon’s market chat fits—hard work’s the Wellington way, and the Indian lot embody it. In Tawa, a Punjabi dairy owner’s been at it since 2005—same hours as Aitken up in Avondale. They don’t moan—they grind.

Looking Forward

What’s next? Luxon’s post is a pat on the back, but Wellington’s Indian community’s eyeing more. They vote—Northern Ward’s got Indian families fed up with rates, Southern’s got Newtown renters wanting pipes fixed. Candidates might notice—Chung’s “cut costs” or Bloxham’s “community first” could snag their nod. Pākehā at #1 and Māori at #2 aren’t budging, but #3’s flexing—businesses, festivals, sheer hustle. By 2030, they might nudge closer to #2—Wellington’s diversity’s only growing.

Conclusion

At One Network Wellington Live, we see it clear—Luxon’s right to cheer the Indian crew. They’re #3—behind Pākehā’s 160,000 and Māori’s 30,000 here—but they’re Wellington’s spark. From Thorndon dairies to Newtown naan, they’re stitching the city tighter. Pākehā laid the bricks, Māori lit the fire, and Indians brought the spice—together, they’re keeping Wellington humming. Luxon’s post says it: “proud to celebrate”—and in this windy capital, we’re all richer for it.