New Zealand's Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) has denied asylum to an Indian man who claimed persecution after converting from Hinduism to Christianity. The tribunal dismissed his appeal in March 2026, stating he failed to demonstrate a credible risk of persecution in India. The man, born in 2001 in Uttarakhand, developed an interest in Christianity while attending a Christian school and faced opposition from his family, particularly his paternal uncle, who allegedly physically assaulted him for attending church. After arriving in New Zealand on a visitor visa in October 2023, he formally converted to Christianity in June 2024 and subsequently filed for refugee status. His claims included an alleged attack on his family home in March 2025 by individuals connected to Hindu nationalist groups. However, the tribunal found his claims to be “manifestly unfounded,” noting he did not seek help from Indian authorities or provide evidence of attempts to access state protection. The tribunal concluded that the evidence did not meet the threshold for refugee status, labeling the risks as speculative.