Asturlab

Asturlab is a Muslim-led charitable trust and social enterprise established in 2021 in Christchurch, New Zealand, born from the need for a permanent, vibrant home for the Muslim community in Aotearoa following the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.

Taking its name from the astrolabe, an ancient Islamic navigational instrument that guided explorers to new horizons, Asturlab aims to guide and uplift the community toward an enlightened future. It currently delivers a wide range of inclusive services and activities for both Muslim and non-Muslim residents, including annual Eid festivals, a Muslim-led gym and jiu-jitsu program, elderly wellness initiatives, women’s support groups, Qur’an classes, a community library and barber shop, chaplaincy in prisons and hospitals, mental-wellbeing sessions, and events with international Islamic speakers.

Its bold long-term vision is to create “The Enlightened City,” the most spiritually uplifted, sustainable, and impactful Muslim community in the world. This permanent non-cash and cash waqf complex in Christchurch will feature authentic and environmentally sustainable Islamic architecture organized around four pillars:

- House of Healing (medical clinic, gym, dojo, and retirement living)
- House of Peace (a landmark tourist-attracting mosque)
- House of Knowledge (modern education centre and museum of Muslim history in New Zealand and globally)
- Bazaar (a lively halal marketplace)

Through these interconnected “houses” and revenue-generating endowments, Asturlab seeks to holistically meet spiritual, health, social, and economic needs while fostering inclusivity, preserving Islamic heritage, and building enduring community strength and positive impact.

We are on instagram https://www.instagram.com/asturlab.otautahi/%20/#

Services

Arts & Culture, Business & Enterprise, Charitable Services, Community Services, Counselling Services, Disability & Special Needs, Education, Employment, Faith Group, Financial Services/Funding Assistance, Health/Mental Health, Interpreting & Translation, Legal, Media, Migrant/Settlement, Older People, Recreation/Sport, Refugee, Research, Social Welfare, Technology/AI, Women, Youth