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There are plans to raise the first Hindu temple of the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, according to reports.

About 2150 square meters of land in Tauriko area of Tauranga has been bought for about $400,000 by Snatan Dharm Trust (SDT) for this purpose and it hopes to start temple construction during the beginning of 2013, reports suggest.

Bhoomi-pooja (earth-worship, ground-breaking) ceremony will be held on Saturday on this site, which currently has a shed but tents will also be raised, reports add.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of temple project leaders and area community to realize this Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Closest Hindu temples from this area are said to be in Auckland and Hamilton. Kuldip Kumar is the treasurer and Mohan Sailly is a trustee of SDT.

One of New Zealand’s fastest growing cities, diverse Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand, settled in 12th century, is home to New Zealand’s biggest export port, National Jazz Festival and large number of migrants. Significant number of its residents are over 60 years and over 16% population is Maori. Notable people associated with Tauranga include drummer Phil Rudd, author Richard O’Brien, Olympian rower Mahé Drysdale, squash champion Dame Susan Devoy and Paralympian Tony Christiansen. Stuart Crosby and David Stewart are Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively of Tauranga City while Leigh Auton and Christine Jones are Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive.