Volunteer work by about 1000 people has given Thai Buddhists living in Auckland their first temple.
One of the volunteers, Utthun Atthawit, laid the gleaming white floor in the new temple and library, in spare time from his day job as a tiling contractor.
"I just want to give something
to our community," said Mr Atthawit, who has lived in Auckland for 11 years.
His work now reflects a golden statue of the Buddha - a gift from Thailand - which has been carried from house to house in Auckland for more than a decade of religious events.
The temple's foundation stone was laid in September 2007 in a setting of bush and mangroves at Kelston, West Auckland.
The building has been supervised by a Thai monk from Chiang Mai, "Pracao" Chaovana Ngamsanguanprapa.
The official opening on February 7 will end the computer engineering graduate's years of living on site in a small caravan. "People here work very hard to educate their children and send money back to poor relatives in Thailand," he said.
"Parents and students will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the temple and have Sunday school and learn Thai language and culture."
Six years ago, the Mahamakut Thai Buddhist Trust began raising the money for the temple and its accommodation wing for monks.
Trust chairman Vinai Aphivinayo, who has lived in New Zealand for 30 years, said the temple would serve about 3000 Thais in Auckland.
The centre at Sabulite Rd is open to all who seek counselling and meditation.
