For the devotees of Sai Baba in Auckland, it is a part of the weekly ritual to visit Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan’s Sai Temple in Onehunga.

Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of NZ Inc (SSSSNZ) has also played a major part in not just connecting devotees to their Guru but also offering a place where community members can come together in a peaceful environment.

The Sansthan, which is a non-profit organisation, was registered in June 2002 after a group of like-minded devotees of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba met and decided to work to create awareness about the legendary spiritual master’s life and teachings.

The devotees met weekly for their Satsang programmes and as the number of devotees kept going up, the group moved to Mt Roskill War Memorial, May Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland in April 2004 where they conducted Satsang till 2013.

Finally, in 2014, the Sansthan purchased a piece of land at 12-18 Princes St, Onehunga, Auckland.  On 9 February 2014, the long-standing dream of numerous Baba devotees culminated in the Pran Pratishtha of Baba (consecration of the idol) by Guruji Chandra Bhanu Satpathy Ji.

Recently, on 9 February, the Sansthan celebrated the eighth anniversary of the Temple. A simple ceremony was organised while following the Covid-19 protocols. Dignitaries and more than 200 devotees participated in the celebrations on the day which started with Dwar Puja at 6.30 AM, followed by Kakad Aarti and Abhishekam for Baba, Shiva and Navagrahas. Later in the evening, Bhajan Satsang was held followed by Shej Aarti and Maha Prasad.

This space which became famous by the name Sai Temple has become one of the focal points of community development and has been involved in various initiatives such as blood donation campaigns with NZ Blood Services, planting of trees with Auckland Council, raising funds and material for various calamities all over the world, be it the floods, earthquakes, Tsunami. The Sansthan has donated $60,000 to Starship foundation over five years from 2016-2021.

Currently, the Sansthan is in the process of raising monies to donate a fully equipped ambulance costing about $ 300,000 to St John's to mark the 10th Temple Anniversary in February 2024.

During Covid Lockdown, the Sansthan had two food drives. The first one was supported by devotees when 700 grocery bags valuing about $ 25,000 were given to those affected by the lockdown.  The second food drive was supported by Ministry of Social Development wherein 300 boxes were distributed.