New Zealand Muslim Association

New Zealand Muslim Association (NZMA) established in 1950 is the oldest Islamic institution in New Zealand.

History

Sheikh Airot, current Imam of Ponsonby Mosque (Auckland, New Zealand), and Mazhar Krasniqi, Q.S.M. Venue: Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), 16 November 2005, Parliament House, Wellington, New Zealand.

In 1959 it purchased a house in Ponsonby, central Auckland, and converted it into the first Islamic Centre in the country. In 1960 the NZMA invited Maulana Said Musa Patel from the Gujarat to become New Zealand's first Imam. In 1967 this house was sold and another bought; in 1972 this too was sold and another acquired at 17 Vermont Street, Ponsonby. In 1979 the house on this site was removed and construction work began to build New Zealand's first real mosque. Also in 1979 the NZMA was a founding constituent member of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ), the national Muslim organisation.

Former presidents of the NZMA include Kosovo-born Mazhar Krasniqi (1975 and 1987–88) and Nazmi Mehmeti from the Republic of Macedonia (1963). The longest serving Executive Committee member between 1956 and 1981 was Hajji Avdo Musovich (1919–2001), originally from Montenegro. The current president of the Association is Imtiaz Ali and the current Secretary is Feroze Ali (no relation).

References

• Berryman, Warren, and Draper, John, “Meat exporters resist costly Islamic crusade” in The National Business Review (May, 1979), Volume 9, No.16 (Issue 333), p. 1.
• Bishop, Martin C., ` “A History of the Muslim Community in New Zealand to 1980”, thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of M.A. in history at the University of Waikato’ (Waikato University, 1997).
• “Growing Support For Queen St Protest March” in The Auckland Star (26 August 1968), p. 3.
• "3000 stage city protest” in The Auckland Star (28 August 1968), p. 1.
• “City Mosque For Muslims” in The New Zealand Herald (28 March 1979), p. 1.
• De Graaf, Peter, “The Kiwi Kosovars” in Metro (June, 2001), pp. 89–93.
• Drury, Abdullah, “A Short History of the Ponsonby Mosque, New Zealand” in Al-Nahdah (Malaysia), Vol.19, No.3, pp. 36–38.
• Drury, Abdullah, “A Short History: New Zealand’s First Mosque” in The Muslim World League Journal (Dhul-Qa‘adah 1421 - February 2001), Vol.28, No.11, pp. 45–48.
• Drury, Abdullah, “A Short History of the Ponsonby Mosque, Auckland” in Da’wah Highlights (Rabi-ul Awwal 1422 - June 2001), Vol.XII, Issue 6, pp. 43–50.
• Drury, Abdullah, “A Tribute to the Illyrian Pioneers” in Al Mujaddid (March 2002 - Muharram 1423), Vol.1, No.16, p. 10.
• Drury, Abdullah, Islam in New Zealand: The First Mosque (Christchurch, 2007) ISBN 978-0-473-12249-2
• Drury, Abdullah, “Mazhar Krasniqi Now QSM” in Al Mujaddid (20 March 2003 - Muharram 1424), p. 16.
• Drury, Abdullah, “Mazharbeg” in Al Mujaddid (21 June 2003 - Rabiul Thani 1424), Vol.1, p. 14.
• “Eastern Dome For Skyline” in The New Zealand Herald (7 April 1980), p. 2.
• “Islamic Meat Trade” in The Otago Daily Times (12 March 1979), p. 1.
• Krasniqi, Mazhar, “Message” in Al Mujaddid (January 2000), p. 4.
• MacIntyre, Dave, “$3m Being Sent To NZ For Building Of Two Mosques” in The Evening Post (29 November 1978), p. 44.
• Mannion, Robert, “Moslems Caught in Classic Dilemma” in The Dominion Sunday Times (26 February 1989), p. 11.
• Middleton, Julie, “NZ Muslim leader honoured” in The New Zealand Herald (22 August 2005), p. 10.
• “Mohammad Sharif Madhavi Hojatol Islam spends most of his time supervising halal killing in freezing works.” in The Auckland Star (14 April 1980), p. 7.
• Moore, Leanne, “Muslims and Catholics in single salute” in The New Zealand Herald (30 September 1995), p. 24.
• “Moslem Group Form NZ Federation” in The New Zealand Herald (2 May 1979), p. 10.
• “Muslims begin the holy month of Ramadan” in The New Zealand Herald (27 January 1996), p. 17.
• “Muslims plan mosque for city” in The Auckland Star (4 January 1956), p. 5.
• “Muslims Raising Funds for a Mosque” in The New Zealand Herald (4 January 1956), p. 8.
• “Muslims Raising Meat Deal Snags” in The Evening Post (4 August 1979), p. 8.
• “Musovich” in The New Zealand Herald (17–18 November 2001), D13.
• “N.Z. Moslems Support Arab Cause” in The New Zealand Herald (12 June 1967), p. 1.
• “Obituary Notice” in Al Mujaddid (December 2001 - Shawaal 1422), Vol.1, No.15, p. 9.
• “Obituary” in RISEAP Newsletter (December 2001), p. 4.
• Thomson, Ainsley, “Mazhar Krasniqi” in The New Zealand Herald (31 December 2002), p.A6.
• Trickett, Peter, “Minarets in Ponsonby” in The New Zealand Listener (21 April 1979), pp. 18–19.
• Waja, Ismail, “50 Years Celebrations” in Al Mujaddid (July 2001), p. 1-2, 7.
• New Zealand Gazette (10 January 2003), Issue No.2., p. 83.
• Zaman, Gul, “In Memory Of Marhum Demal Hodzic” in FIANZ News (March 2006), page.7.