|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Planning is under way for a new temple on the outskirts of Pukekohe.
The Waikato District Council said that to date, council had received a pre-application for resource consent for 851 and 855 Upper Queen Street, Pukekohe. No other applications have been lodged.
The 12-hectare property was settled in May.
Spokesperson Kamanjot Kaur said they had been asked why Pukekohe has been chosen for a new temple.
“The first Sikhs settled in Pukekohe, with the first temple built in Hamilton. We have a lot of history and connections with Pukekohe.”
Kaur has lived in Pukekohe since she was three years old, and said she loves the community here.
“That’s one of the main things about Sikhi, it doesn’t matter who you are, you are always welcome at the temple. This is a place for anyone and everyone in Pukekohe, in Franklin, in New Zealand, in Aotearoa.
“That’s the concept the Gurdwara, or temple, was started with back in Punjab. That’s what we’re carrying over and making sure future generations know what it means to actually live near a Gurdwara and to have a Gurdwara near you.”
When asked why the Upper Queen Street site was chosen, Kaur said the native bush was a big pull.
“When we have temples, we are supposed to have a connection with the place. It’s supposed to be a spiritual sanctuary and this place offers that. Our religion is very based on mediation; meditating the name of God is very important.”
She said about 300 families were expected to use the temple, and they hoped to gain approval to have up to 468 cars on site.
“In the early stages it will just be home/trustee members coming, but once it has been approved by council, then we want to establish understanding of what we are and why we are opening up a temple here,” Ravinder Singh said.
However, some residents have raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure and its rural location.
Upper Queen Street resident Paula Walsh said she understood the proposed temple would be open 24/7 and was concerned about the impact of large numbers of vehicles and people using the rural property.
“The impact on the area will be huge. Everyone I spoke to are concerned about the traffic, noise, lighting et cetera.”
Singh said the news had been received by a mixture of reactions which was understandable. He hoped understanding around what the temple brings to the wider community, not just Sikhs, would help allay any concerns.
“It’s a multicultural coming together.”
Singh said Sikhi and Christianity share similar morals, and it was important to remember Sikhi’s three pillars. Naam Japna (name of God), Kirat Karni (honest living) and Vand Chakna (sharing with others).
