The Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand (FIANZ) has secured the permission to build an Islamic Vocational Centre on Porchester Road which will be in construction very soon.
The idea to build the Islamic Centre was conceptualised more than 5 years ago and the land was purchased 3 and half years ago. The Islamic Centre will be built on 4.5 ha (10 acres) of land which is around 48000 square metres.
The estimated cost of the project is an excess of $15 million and funding for the same is being done from the community and overseas.
The centre will be the biggest in New Zealand with living area, auditorium, outdoor sports ground, offices, a two storey school building with 13 classrooms, two specialised teaching rooms, 6 traveller accommodation units, a multipurpose sports hall with indoor swimming pools, conference rooms, and three different parking spaces to accommodate 150+ cars.
New Zealand has a Muslim population of around 55000 people from 56 countries of which 2/3rd are in Auckland. This Islamic centre will not just serve as a mosque for praying but will also attract a place for recreational activity for the community members. The school at the centre will host around 300 students in general studies along with learning Arabic language and subjects on Islamic culture. There will be short and long term courses on the teachings of Islam and regular events to engage the community members.
The purpose of Islamic Centre is also to attract member of other communities to come forward and know Islam better, know the religion better, to establish brotherhood and understanding between the communities through interaction.
The Islamic Centre will also bring women and children to the centre both for learning and spending quality time during weekends and holidays. The construction of the building will commence soon and in stages once the funding is completed.
Based on an organisation Bolton Council of Muslims (BCOM) in UK, members of FIANZ are also looking forward to form a regional council for Muslims in Auckland. The idea is on a very early stage and it is encouraged by the community leaders to its members to take the idea forward and create a centralised regional council to navigate the community and increase its activities in the near future. The indication to make such a council is to get all the mosques under one regional roof and govern its actions in the direction of growth and betterment of the whole community.
More information on the Islamic Centre is available on FIANZ’s website: www.fianz.co.nz
