Fo Guang Shan Temple, Auckland

The Fo Guang Shan temple is a large temple and community centre of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist movement in the East Tamaki/Flat Bush suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the country. The temple and complex were built over seven years at a cost NZ$ 20 million. It was designed in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. The temple also includes a large Buddha statue and a two-tonne bell.Opened in late 2007, the mission of the new temple is to promote Humanistic Buddhism. But it is also intended to benefit (and is open to) non-Buddhists, "through education and teaching people how to lead good lives." Even before its official opening, the temple had provided community courses such as Chinese calligraphy, Chinese language, yoga and martial arts, as well as providing a venue for crime prevention talks and meetings.