At Lote Tree, we work alongside local people to grow community-led projects that uplift, empower, and create belonging. Our roots are in Auckland, and our branches reach communities across Aotearoa.
Our mission: to nurture local leaders, strengthen our communities, and build a thriving future together.
Lote Tree Trust is a community organisation based in Auckland. Since 2015, we’ve been working to build an ecosystem where people and communities across Aotearoa can thrive spiritually, socially, and collectively.
Our work is guided by faith and grounded in shared human values: compassion, sincerity, and service. We deliver and support initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, belonging, and leadership, with a particular focus on supporting Muslim communities as part of the wider fabric of New Zealand society.
We create positive and lasting impact by connecting people and resources through education, community development, and collaborative projects. We nurture communities that care for one another and the environment.
Our guiding beliefs
Perched above the mosque and overlooking the calm waters below, the Lote Tree Shared Space is a place designed for reflection, focus, and collaboration. It is more than just an office. It’s a peaceful, purpose-driven environment where creativity, community, and shared values come together.
Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant hub where people from all walks of life can work, learn, and grow together. Users of the space are grounded in purpose, surrounded by beauty, and motivated to contribute to the common good.
The space is currently still being completed and funding is sought.
Haamid was born in New Zealand. He studied Islam in Australia, Egypt, and Yemen before completing a Bachelor of Laws in Auckland, New Zealand, where he is currently based. He now runs a dispute resolution and consulting private practice.
He currently serves as the Chair of Lote Tree and is deeply passionate about the community-led development work the trust does in communities across New Zealand. Haamid also teaches as a Head Teacher at Dar al Quran and at the Hillsborough Masjid, and is actively involved in various community engagement initiatives across New Zealand.
Soraiya was born in Te Kuiti and raised in Auckland. She now lives in Wellington with her husband. Soraiya is committed to creating a positive difference in New Zealand through her professional life and volunteer work at Lote Tree.
After many years of community development and political work, she decided that she needed to find a community that could support her growth as a Muslim. This path led her to the teachers of Dar al Qur’an, Auckland. It opened up the opportunity for her to serve the community using her education, skills, and experience in community development.
Razia had a background in politics and law before studying the Islamic Sciences in Jordan, Egypt, and Yemen. She specialises in Quran and holds ijazah (traditional teaching licence) from Egypt.
She served as the Principal of Dar Al Zahra one of the foremost Islamic seminaries in the world for women in Tarim, Yemen.
She has been involved in setting up three schools, most recently a sustainable green Muslim school in Vanuatu. She runs classes for women and has her own Education Consultancy through which she trains teachers and develops educational resources.
Sharifah was born in Auckland and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Management. A qualified Chartered Accountant with CA ANZ, she has built an international career in finance, working across New Zealand, London, and Dubai. Her experience spans corporate finance, nonprofit consulting, and financial coaching, and she finds purpose in helping organisations and individuals strengthen their financial foundations to achieve long-term sustainability and positive change.
With a strong commitment to service, Sharifah is passionate about using her professional expertise to support initiatives that create meaningful social impact for the community.
Born in India but raised and educated in the UK, Shakeel moved with his family to New Zealand in 2012 after spending a number of years living and working in the Middle East. Shakeel’s career has been in IT project management and he has worked for the University of Auckland since arriving in the country.
Shakeel has a keen interest in the holistic integration of Islamic and secular education. He has been a consultant project manager in Muslim schools in the UK and has helped establish a Muslim primary school in Auckland.
Jafar was born in Saudi Arabia but moved to New Zealand with his parents in high school. He works in an Auckland hospital as a kidney transplant specialist.
Jafar has previously been involved in several community initiatives such as community food banks, and ecological restoration projects.
Jafar has completed the fundamentals of Islamic studies by studying with traditional scholars online and in person and dreams of pursuing higher Islamic education in the future. Outside his professional and community commitments he likes playing sports and board games with his children and nieces and singing nasheeds with others in his spare time.
Meet with a Lote Tree Representative to tell us about your organisation.
We'll propose a project that aligns with your organisation's goals and meets a community need.
We'll work together to deliver and sustain the project in the community.
The latest updates, news and stories from across our various projects
At Hillsborough Masjid, we wanted our mihrab to hold more than just function. We wanted it to tell a story — a story of Islam here in Aotearoa, and of young New Zealanders
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