Located on a spacious 6,550 square meter plot in Upper Hutt, about 35 kilometers from the center of the capital city Wellington, New Zealand, Thien Thai Buddhist Temple was initially established in 1999. It is affiliated with The United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia and New Zealand.
In the mid-1970s, despite its small population, the Vietnamese community in Wellington had a strong interest in Buddhism and seeking their roots and expressing a deep desire to learn the teachings of Buddhism. Therefore, they regularly invited Venerable Phuoc Ha Hue (Abbot of Phuoc Hue Monastery in Sydney) and respected monks from Australia to New Zealand for ceremonies and teachings. At that time, the Vietnamese community had to hire venues to host these ceremonies, making it an increasingly important and urgent need to find a piece of land to establish a temple.
With the support and guidance of the venerable monks from the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the generous contributions from the Vietnamese community and Buddhist practitioners, including the significant efforts of Nguyen Dinh Hai (Dharma name Minh An) and his wife Nguyen Thi Huong (Dharma name Dieu Di) – who played a key role in promoting the search for land to build the temple, in 1998, the temple acquired the land on which Thien Thai Temple now stands.
On January 24, 1999, Thien Thai Temple held a ceremony to lay the cornerstone and commence the construction of the main hall, which had an initial size of only 20×20 meters (the current small temple hall) under the auspices and leadership of the most Venerable Thuong Phuoc Ha Hue, the former Head of the Institute of Propagation of the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia and New Zealand.
On March 18, 2018, after a long period of accumulating sufficient financial resources and human resources, Thien Thai Temple held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the current main hall. The main hall was officially inaugurated and put into operation on March 1, 2020. It serves as a place for Buddhist worship, the organization of Buddhist festivals throughout the year, and a place for spiritual practice for both local and distant Buddhist practitioners in Wellington.
Thien Thai Temple is not only a place for preserving and propagating the Dharma but also a sanctuary for the Vietnamese spirit, a symbol of Vietnamese culture, and the essence of the Vietnamese nation.
Thiên Thai Monastery in Wellington, New Zealand is committed to fostering spiritual growth, promoting peace, and serving the well-being of all individuals, irrespective of their background or beliefs. Our mission is to provide a welcoming and inclusive sanctuary where Buddhist teachings and practices can flourish, enriching the lives of our diverse community and contributing to the harmony and welfare of Wellington and beyond.
Our vision for Thien Thai Monastery is to be a beacon of enlightenment, compassion, and unity in Wellington, New Zealand. We aspire to create a harmonious and spiritually vibrant environment where people of all backgrounds can come together to learn, practice, and share the profound teachings of Buddhism. We envision a community that embraces diversity, cultivates mindfulness, and actively engages in acts of kindness and altruism to make a positive impact on society.
At Thien Thai Monastery, we are guided by the following core values:
Inclusivity: We embrace people from all walks of life, respecting their unique backgrounds and beliefs, and fostering an environment of acceptance and unity.
Spiritual Growth: We are dedicated to helping individuals on their spiritual journey by providing guidance, resources, and a supportive community for personal growth and transformation.
Compassion: We practice and promote compassion towards all beings, advocating for empathy, kindness, and understanding in our interactions with others.
Community Engagement: We actively participate in the well-being of our local and global communities through acts of service, outreach programs, and support for those in need.
Mindfulness: We cultivate mindfulness in daily life, promoting self-awareness and the cultivation of inner peace to navigate the challenges of modern society.
Harmony: We strive to create a harmonious atmosphere within the temple and extend this harmony to the broader community, fostering peace and cooperation among all.
