By Bronson Perich – Local Democracy reporter

Plans for the new masjid which will have a footprint of about 220 square metres.

A small four-bedroom house on the corner of Kaimanawa St and Tamamutu St has been the headquarters of the Taupō Islamic Centre since 2015.

Its western aesthetics and legal operating name mean many Taupō locals have no idea that it’s actually been converted into a masjid [mosque].

Muslims are required to pray five times a day, even as they travel, meaning they plan their itineraries around the location of masjids as much as possible.

The Taupō Islamic Centre is one of only two masjids on the stretch of State Highway 1 between Taupō and Wellington, which has made Taupō a sort of spiritual tourist stop.

According to the 2023 Census, the local Muslim community accounts for only 0.3% of the Taupō district population.

However, with the ever-increasing popularity of Taupō as a place to eat, pray and love, local Muslim leaders have seen the need for an upgrade.

They lodged a resource consent application with the Taupō District Council early last year.

The council granted consent in April 2025. “We are proposing the construction of Taupō’s first dedicated masjid — a place of worship, reflection, community service, and genuine hospitality," the Taupō Islamic Centre said in a statement recently.

“It is an institution that will serve all of Taupō, regardless of faith, background, or belief.”

Taupō Islamic Centre trustee Mohammed Hanif Patel acknowledged there were not many Muslims living in Taupō, though there was a need for a new facility due to a large number of travellers.

“We have tour buses of Muslim tourists who come here to pray, and there’s only one toilet.”

Taupō Islamic Centre intends to replace the current building with a purpose-built, two-storey facility.

Due to the small size of the corner plot, the plan is to build up, rather than out.

The plans submitted to Taupō District Council as part of the resource consent application include provisions for a larger prayer hall, separate male and female toilets, two disabled toilets, a library, a classroom and a space to conduct Muslim funeral rites.

The Taupō Muslim community also intends to use the new masjid as a headquarters for future charitable activities.

“We intend to operate a regular food pack distribution programme from the mosque, supporting families in Taupō who are experiencing hardship,” the centre’s statement said. “Whether a recipient is Christian, Māori, atheist, or of any other background is entirely beside the point. Need is the only criterion.”

They also planned on making the building accessible to the wider community, should they need meeting rooms, which would be free of charge.

The new masjid would be funded by New Zealand’s Muslim community and “partners in Malaysia”, the centre said.

While the centre has received resource consent, building consent has not yet been applied for.

The centre said it would apply for building consent once sufficient funds had been raised for the development.

The development has been the target of several Islamophobic attacks by locals and misinformation about the development has been spread on social media.

One group has started an online petition against the masjid and complained to Taupō district councillors.

The resource consent process has been handled by Taupō District Council staff, not elected members.

However, Taupō Mayor John Funnell and deputy mayor Kevin Taylor expressed their support for the masjid.

“We’ll go much further if we move forward as one community,” Funnell said.

Taylor said: “As a Christian, I support the lawful of expression of faith, whatever that might be.

“While I don’t adhere to the tenets of Islam, I respect their right to practise their faith.

“If I object to their ability to express their faith, that opens the door to someone else to object to my expression of faith, and that is dangerous."

Taupō Islamic Centre trustee Haji Mohammed Hanif Patel said: “In 11 years, we have not had a single complaint [about our masjid], we don’t know why these things have started!”

A council spokesperson confirmed that apart from one visit from Te Roopu o Tapuaeharuru, they had not received any official complaints about the Taupō Islamic Centre since it opened in 2015.