Dr Elizabeth Day speaking to project
The Bhikkhunī Sangha relies on the generosity of lay supporters for essentials like food, shelter, and medicine, just as in the Buddha’s time. In return, nuns offer teachings and spiritual guidance, creating a relationship of mutual benefit.
Despite their vital role, bhikkhunīs have long faced challenges in receiving equal resources as monks. Lay support ensures they can fully dedicate themselves to practice and teaching, preserving the Dhamma for future generations. By upholding the Fourfold Assembly, we help sustain a flourishing Buddhist community where wisdom and compassion thrive.
If you would like to offer lunch for the monastics or if you would like to volunteer then please email:
Please use the options below to contribute towards daily monastery expenses, general property costs, maintenance, or support for the monastics. Your generosity helps sustain the monastery and its community.
- For Paypal or Debit card donation please use the ‘Make a Donation’ button:
- For direct banking to our Aotearoa/New Zealand bank account:
Kiwibank 38 9017 0491759-00 – New Zealand Bhikkhunī Sangha Trust
SWIFT code: KIWINZ22
Kiwibank Limited, Level 9, 20 Customhouse Quay, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand.
Please send an email to nz.bhikkhunitrust@gmail.com when donation is made with your name and address and add any specifics you may feel necessary. We will forward a receipt for tax deduction purposes.
Charity Registration Number: CC52798
New Zealand Bhikkhunī Sangha Trust has met the qualifying criteria under Section LD 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 to receive donations. This means that individuals can claim a donation tax credit for cash donations greater than $5 to the Trust. A tax credit or deduction will only apply where funds are used by the organisation for charitable, benevolent, philanthropic or cultural purposes wholly or principally within New Zealand.
The Monastics and the Trustees extend their heartfelt gratitude to everyone around the world who has embraced this vision and generously contributed funds, services, and goods to help establish a residence in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton. The outpouring of generosity is truly heartwarming—this is a remarkable journey, and with your support, we are all part of making it a reality.
A message from Ajahn Brahmali – Bodhinyana Monastery, Western Australia
How marvellous it is that you have a monastery for bhikkhunīs in Hamilton! It is rare in the Buddhist world to find such facilities, especially for female renunciants. Guard it well! It will be a refuge and place for profound practice for generations of remarkable bhikkhunīs.
The Buddhist world is such that monks often get much support and have many monasteries with good conditions for practice. They can live in Sri Lanka, Thailand, or Australia, even on Mars, it seems! The world is open to them. The number of inspiring monasteries they can stay at is significant.
For bhikkhunīs, however, it is much more difficult. The world has not yet accepted them. We are working on it, but the truth is that people are conservative and change only happens incrementally. This means that every monastery for nuns is valuable, as it opens up new possibilities for the growth and well-being of the Bhikkhunī-sangha.
The fact that you already have a vihāra for nuns is a fantastic opportunity for the Hamilton Buddhist community to support this larger movement in the world. At the same time, it is a chance to grow a Bhikkhunī-sangha in New Zealand. Homegrown bhikkhunīs! What a wonderful thing that would be! What a marvellous supplement it would be to the Bhikkhu-sangha that is already established in New Zealand.
In time, the Hamilton monastery may blossom into something magnificent. Perhaps you will have a truly attractive forest monastery for bhikkhunīs. Perhaps you will be the centre for the training of bhikkhunīs in New Zealand. Perhaps the true wisdom of the Buddha will be found right there in your community!
There are so many women around the world who want to ordain. The queue is long – too long! There are not enough monasteries to house them, and so ordination itself becomes impossible, at least not straight away. How splendid it would be if the Hamilton vihāra could help us overcome this shortage. In time, you will have your own inspiring bhikkhunīs, good teachers like Venerable Kāruṇikā. What a blessing that would be for Hamilton and New Zealand. When you think of what can be, when we see the potential for the future, it is worthwhile doing our best to preserve the Hamilton Monastery for the Bhikkhunī-sangha.
So let’s see if we can make this a reality. Keep in mind that, according tothe suttas, supporting the Sangha in this way is a very good thing to do. Hopefully it will give you a lot of joy and happiness to be able to support the monastic community in this way.
But a word of caution. It is not easy to build up a monastery. It requires dedication and commitment. Yet the fact that you have the support of good nuns means that the basic ingredients are in place for a successful outcome. Now you need faith and a vision that this is possible, and then work towards it with perseverance.
I wish you all the very best and the best of luck. If I can be of any help, you’re always welcome to reach out to me. I’ll be more than happy to do what I can to make this project succeed.
A big sādhu to all of you for all the good work you have undertaken so far, and for your awesome support of the Bhikkhunī-sangha!
New Zealand Bhikkhunī Sangha Trust 