The creation of a Maitri Centre in New Zealand is one of the main focuses of the Maitri Foundation charity and here on this page you will find information about the various projects being worked on, so that everyone can see & be involved with the progress being made. We lovingly hope that a Maitri Centre in NZ will soon manifest so that all truth seekers & dharma lovers can visit & stay, for the benefit of all beings.
The Big Project - Purchasing Land
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For a Maitri Centre to be born in New Zealand, it is important that we have a suitable land solution. The most obvious solution would be for the charity to purchase land but purchasing land requires significant financial resources. Therefore, this project is likely to be an ongoing project, as we continue to raise funds for land, whilst working on the other divinely guided projects (outlined on the rest of this page).
All of the Maitri Centre projects that have been worked on so far (outlined below) have been built temporarily on Gerry's parents' land, with their gracious blessing, and have been designed as portable/transportable so that in the future, when the charity is financially able to purchase land, everything can be easily relocated (except the concrete path). Also, it is important to point out that all of these projects have been divinely guided, divinely inspired & worked on for the infinite benefit of all beings.
For those wishing to make a financial contribution to any of the projects outlined below, including the purchase of land, we lovingly invite you to use the donation options below:
All of the Maitri Centre projects that have been worked on so far (outlined below) have been built temporarily on Gerry's parents' land, with their gracious blessing, and have been designed as portable/transportable so that in the future, when the charity is financially able to purchase land, everything can be easily relocated (except the concrete path). Also, it is important to point out that all of these projects have been divinely guided, divinely inspired & worked on for the infinite benefit of all beings.
For those wishing to make a financial contribution to any of the projects outlined below, including the purchase of land, we lovingly invite you to use the donation options below:
a) Donate by Credit Card
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b) Donate by Paypal
Project 1 - The First Maitri Building
(Maitri Altar Room & Maitri Office)
July 2020 - Feb 2021
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Commencing in July 2020 and continuing through to early 2021, the construction of the first Maitri building in New Zealand took place. The building was a converted shipping container and it now lovingly hosts an Altar Room for worship & offerings, a dedicated Office space, from which New Zealand volunteers help to share the Maitri Light, and a small 'Sanctuary Room' for personal healing, rejuvenation & meditation.
The building itself has been designed to be portable, so that should the charity own land in the future, it will be able to be relocated. For now it generously rests on picturesque land owned by Sangha family, just outside a small rural town of New Zealand. Much research, planning and many long hours of work helped to create this deeply sacred space so we wish to thank all of the Maitri volunteers who have lovingly offered their time and services to help make this new Maitri building become a reality. For now, the building is not yet 'open to the public' but lots of important work is being done from inside the building. We do hope that one day, the Maitri Foundation charity will own land and will be able to offer more facilities for all truth seekers, Maitri devotees & Dharma lovers to come & enjoy. |
Photos of the completed Maitri building
Outside view of the Maitri building.
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The Maitri building lit up at night.
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The Maitri altar room.
Guru overlooking the Maitri office activities.
The first Maitri altar offerings on 21st Dec 2020.
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Internal view of Maitri office through to altar room.
Daily Maitri puja offerings.
Daily chanting of the Maitri prayers.
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Photos of the construction process
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The painted shipping container prior to delivery.
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Internal view of the newly arrived container on site.
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Internal wooden framing now complete.
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Sprayfoam insulation is installed.
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Gerry installing glasswool batts for extra insulation.
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Gerry's mum (Sandra) sanding the wall boards.
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The wall linings start to go up.
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Marty checking out the progress.
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Gerry's dad (Les) painting the altar room.
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The pre-flooring goes down.
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The vinyl flooring is laid.
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Skirting boards, architraves & blinds are fitted and the Maitri altar is moved in ready for offerings.
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Project 2 - Covered Deck for the
Maitri Building
Feb 2021 - Apr 2023
Once the Maitri Building was completed (more info above), the next project involved building a covered deck to sit alongside the container building. The covered deck provides shelter from the rain, makes access easier, and also provides shelter from the sun in summer, helping reduce the need for internal cooling.
The deck and its roof was built in sections so that it could more easily be disassembled and relocated, should the charity purchase land in the future. The timber was milled and treated in 2021 and it was ready to use by May 2022, which is when the deck construction process started.
The Maitri Foundation is delighted to share the progress of how this project unfolded and we give thanks to all the love & support we received when completing this project:
The deck and its roof was built in sections so that it could more easily be disassembled and relocated, should the charity purchase land in the future. The timber was milled and treated in 2021 and it was ready to use by May 2022, which is when the deck construction process started.
The Maitri Foundation is delighted to share the progress of how this project unfolded and we give thanks to all the love & support we received when completing this project:
- Early February 2021 - Mature trees donated and felled into logs (for timber for deck).
- Mid February 2021 - Logs transported to local saw mill. Roofing iron for roof over deck donated.
- April / May 2021 - Logs milled into required timber.
- May 2021 - Timber stacked and dried over 5 months (May - Oct).
- October 2021 - Dried timber sent to treatment facility and received back, treated, ready for use.
- May 2022 - The deck building process begins. Piles are cemented in and deck framing is built.
- June/July 2022 - The verandah posts & roof framing go up.
- Aug 2022 - Wire tie-downs for wind protection are installed and then roofing iron & flashings go up.
- Sept 2022 - Trellis goes up and staining begins.
- Oct 2022 - Staining is complete!
- Jan 2023 - Spouting goes up.
- April 2023 - Drainage pipe is dug into the ground and downpipe connected. Deck is now finished!
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Feb 2021 - Tree felling.
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Feb 2021 - Felled logs being transported to sawmill.
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May 2021 - Milled timber,
stacked & drying. |
October 2021 - Dried, treated timber back on site.
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May 2022 - Piles being cemented in.
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May 2022 - First section of deck framing in place.
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May 2022 - Second section of deck framing in place.
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May 2022 - Decking timber being cut to fit.
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June/July 2022 - Verandah posts & roof framing go up.
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Aug 2022 - Wire tie-downs for wind strength are added.
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Aug 2022 - Roofing iron goes on.
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Aug 2022 - Flashings go up.
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Sept 2022 - Trellis goes up.
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Sept 2022 - Trellis up & staining begins.
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Sept/Oct 2022 - Final stages of staining.
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Oct 2022 - Staining complete!
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Jan 2023 - Spouting goes up.
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Jan 2023 - Finished deck!
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Apr 2023 - Drainage pipe dug into the ground and downpipe connected.
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Project 3 - Path to the Maitri Container
October 2022 - January 2023
For easier access to the Maitri Building, a concrete path has been built. The path was completed entirely by hand, including the digging of the dirt, screening of the foundation stones, building of the wooden concrete boxing and the pouring of the concrete. A small puja was then held to 'open' the path on the 25th January 2023 and Higher Consciousness has said that this path has many blessings embedded in it, which is why it needed to be built by hand. We are delighted to share the progress on this project, as well as some photos:
October/ November 2022 - Dirt is hand dug out for the path.
November 2022 - Path foundation stones are hand screened.
December 2022 - Wooden concrete boxing is built & shingle layer is laid. Shingle is plate compacted.
January 2023 - Concrete is poured and allowed to set for a couple of weeks. Boxing is then removed and the edges of the path refilled with dirt. Bark is laid in the garden at the side of the path. The path is now finished!
November 2022 - Path foundation stones are hand screened.
December 2022 - Wooden concrete boxing is built & shingle layer is laid. Shingle is plate compacted.
January 2023 - Concrete is poured and allowed to set for a couple of weeks. Boxing is then removed and the edges of the path refilled with dirt. Bark is laid in the garden at the side of the path. The path is now finished!
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Nov / Dec 2022 - foundation stones are added to path.
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Dec 2022 - Wooden boxing is built for the concrete.
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Dec 2022 - Layer of shingle is added on top of stones.
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Dec 2022 - Shingle is plate compacted.
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Jan 2023 - Starting to pour concrete.
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Jan 2023 - Pouring more concrete.
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Jan 2023 - Concrete is now set & wooden boxing is removed.
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Jan 2023 - Dirt is added to the edges of the path to fill in the gaps.
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Jan 2023 - Bark is added to the garden at the edge of the path.
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Jan 2023 - More bark added to garden at edge of path & Maitri Container.
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Project 4 - Roof for the Maitri Building
December 2022 - January 2023
Following the completion of the Maitri building covered deck project (above), a roof on top of the Maitri building has been built for extra weather protection & to extend the longevity of the building's life.
The roof will have a slight pitch or angle, which will allow the rain to drain off. This is important because the top of the container is flat, which means that water can pool there and potentially cause damage in the longer term. The roof will also provide extra sun protection in the hotter months.
The Maitri Foundation is deeply humbled by the love & support received for this project and we are delighted to share the progress that is being made on this project, as well as some photos:
The roof will have a slight pitch or angle, which will allow the rain to drain off. This is important because the top of the container is flat, which means that water can pool there and potentially cause damage in the longer term. The roof will also provide extra sun protection in the hotter months.
The Maitri Foundation is deeply humbled by the love & support received for this project and we are delighted to share the progress that is being made on this project, as well as some photos:
December 2022 - Timber roof framing goes up, followed by building paper and the 5-rib iron sheets.
January 2023 - Roof flashings go up and the roof is now finished!
January 2023 - Roof flashings go up and the roof is now finished!
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Dec 2022 - Builders putting up timber roof framing.
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Dec 2022 - Timber roof framing.
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Dec 2022 - Iron sheets go up.
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Jan 2023 - Flashings are
put up. |
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Jan 2023 - Flashings at the end of the container.
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Jan 2023 - Flashings over the edge of the roof sheets.
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Jan 2023 - Completed roof with flashings!
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Project 5 - Portable Kitchen/Dining Area
April 2023 - current
After receiving official approval & loving go-ahead from the Central Maitri Office on 20th April 2023, the Maitri Foundation is delighted to announce its fifth project - a portable kitchen/dining area.
Over the last few months it has become apparent that the charity needs a more dedicated solution for both preparing & consuming shuddha ahar*1 (pure food) on site and additionally for washing & preparing altar offerings such as fruit, along with cleaning the light vessels, vases and altar plates before offering them to Paramātma.
Because the charity does not own the currently occupied land and is unable to create permanent solutions for wastewater, a requirement is that the kitchen & dining area needs to be 'on wheels' (where wastewater is manually collected). This means some sort of trailer, caravan, or cabin on wheels is required. Being on wheels, this also means that the building will be portable/transportable so it can be relocated to another piece of land, should the charity purchase something in the future.
Lastly, although the NZ Maitri Building is not yet open to the public, the portable kitchen & dining area will be a nice space to welcome people who are attending any puja events or occasions; a functional and loving space for a Maitri cup of tea or a Maitri meal, as well as many loving Maitri Dharma discussions.
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Donations for this project are now being lovingly accepted and we invite you to use the forms (at the top or bottom of this page) to make a donation. And of course, we will update this page with more information & photos as things unfold, so that everyone can see / be involved in what's happening.
*1 shuddha ahar – (shud’dha āhār) is a Nepali phrase which can be roughly translated as meaning 'wholesome vegan nourishment'. Shuddha ahar is food that is nutritious and free of any living beings from air, land or sea. It is also free of onion, garlic & turmeric and preferably, free from alcohol, intoxicants or stimulants.
Over the last few months it has become apparent that the charity needs a more dedicated solution for both preparing & consuming shuddha ahar*1 (pure food) on site and additionally for washing & preparing altar offerings such as fruit, along with cleaning the light vessels, vases and altar plates before offering them to Paramātma.
Because the charity does not own the currently occupied land and is unable to create permanent solutions for wastewater, a requirement is that the kitchen & dining area needs to be 'on wheels' (where wastewater is manually collected). This means some sort of trailer, caravan, or cabin on wheels is required. Being on wheels, this also means that the building will be portable/transportable so it can be relocated to another piece of land, should the charity purchase something in the future.
Lastly, although the NZ Maitri Building is not yet open to the public, the portable kitchen & dining area will be a nice space to welcome people who are attending any puja events or occasions; a functional and loving space for a Maitri cup of tea or a Maitri meal, as well as many loving Maitri Dharma discussions.
***
Donations for this project are now being lovingly accepted and we invite you to use the forms (at the top or bottom of this page) to make a donation. And of course, we will update this page with more information & photos as things unfold, so that everyone can see / be involved in what's happening.
*1 shuddha ahar – (shud’dha āhār) is a Nepali phrase which can be roughly translated as meaning 'wholesome vegan nourishment'. Shuddha ahar is food that is nutritious and free of any living beings from air, land or sea. It is also free of onion, garlic & turmeric and preferably, free from alcohol, intoxicants or stimulants.
Donate to the NZ Maitri Centre Project
For those who wish to make a financial contribution to any of the upcoming Maitri Centre projects, we lovingly invite you to use the donation options shown below:
a) Donate by Credit Card
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b) Donate by PayPal
