Since 1998
Our History
How a group of Newlands families came together to educate their children and build a community.
Beginnings in family homes
A group of Muslim brothers and sisters who had settled in the hilly district of Newlands, a suburb of Wellington, faced several challenges in preserving their identity as Muslims. In particular, they wanted to educate their sons and daughters in the Islamic way of life.
At first they held religious programmes in certain houses. As the number of Muslims in the suburb steadily grew, they began to hire community halls for their religious activities.
A growing community
Since the 1980s Wellington has been at the centre of a steady growth in the Muslim population, through families migrating to New Zealand and individuals choosing to stay after finishing their studies. Newlands, a few kilometres from the city and reached easily by road and rail, became home to a growing number of Muslim families.
It became increasingly clear to a few concerned Muslims that Islamic life in all its fullness should be put into practice in Newlands, to meet the needs of the growing number of adults and children.
Our children are our asset.
The Trust is established
Through the efforts of devoted and dedicated people, and of concerned Muslim parents, brothers and sisters working together towards common goals, the Al-Hijra Islamic Education Trust (AHIET) was established as an Islamic community centre in April 1998.
AHIET is a multi-racial group formed to co-ordinate Islamic affairs in Newlands, with the aim of providing good quality Islamic education to children and adults alike and of maintaining and enhancing the multicultural activities of the community.
Our centre today
The Al-Hijra Islamic Community Centre is in Newlands, next to Johnsonville, in a small residential property that has served the needs of the community. The centre serves families in Grenada Village, Paparangi, Woodridge, Johnsonville, Churton Park, Glenside, Ohariu Valley, Ngauranga, Kaiwharawhara, Ngaio, Thorndon, Wadestown, Crofton Downs, Khandallah and part of Petone including Seaview.
Newlands’ easy access from the SH1 motorway has made it a centre for the pockets of Muslims living in these communities.