一九八五年五月，臺灣慈明寺開山長老 上 聖 下 印 老和尚，首度應邀前來奧克蘭弘法，自此與紐西蘭結下殊勝法緣，其後又數度來紐宣法。
In May 1985, The Reverend Master Sheng Yin, the Founder of the Taiwan Tsi Ming Temple, was invited to Auckland to spread the Dharma. Since that time, he developed a special relationship with the Buddhist followers in New Zealand, and he continued to visit New Zealand to carry on the teaching of the Dharma.
一九九一年七月，紐西蘭佛門弟子為常沐大師法雨，決定將原「觀音佛教會」、「正信佛教會」合組為「慈明佛教會」，恭請 上 聖 下 印 老和尚 擔任會長，並於奧克蘭市瓦依拉奇街購得道場現址
In July 1991, in wishing to be continually guided by the Reverend Master, the Buddhist communities in New Zealand decided to merge the then existing "Kuan Yin Society" and "Cheng Hsin Society" to form the "New Zealand Tsi Ming Buddhist Society" and invited The Reverend Master Sheng Yin to be the Founding Leader. At the same time, the present property at 17 Wairakei Street, Greenlane, Auckland, was also acquired.
一九九二年五月十八日，慈明寺正式成立，由開山長老 上 聖 下 印 老和尚邀請藏密大修行者 達賴喇嘛 主持大雄寶殿破土儀式，並為華嚴三聖安座開光。
On 15 May 1992, the Tsi Ming Buddhist temple was formally declared open. The Founder Reverend Master Sheng Yin invited His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony for the Main Sgrine Hall, and the Blessing of the installation of the stsues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Manjusri Bohisattve and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
盛大的動土大典之後，老和尚繼續於世界各地進行忙碌的弘法行程，為了在奧克蘭建設一座清淨莊嚴的佛教道場，令其弟子 上 常 下 順法師 為紐西蘭慈明寺監院，往返奧克蘭親自監工，從設計、籌款到購料、監工，都躬親奉執，領眾參與工作。
After that, Master Sheng Yin kept busy in spreading Buddhadharma around the world. As demanded to construct a temple with peace and dignity here, His displine Master Chang Shuen journeyed to and fro Auckland as a hands-on leader from designing, raising funds, purchasing materials to supervising workers.
一九九五年五月十四日，紐西蘭第一座佛教寺院建築慈明寺落成，由開山長老 上 聖 下 印 老和尚、紐西蘭政要、毛利族長老主席、天主教及達賴喇嘛代表共同主持剪綵象徵種族、宗教、文化的融合。大雄寶殿並展示泰國僧王致贈的鎮寺佛陀舍利開放供信眾瞻仰膜拜。
On 14 May 1995, the construction of the first purpose-built Buddhist Temple in New Zealand, The Tsi Ming Temple, was completed. The opeing ceremony was led by the Founder Reverend Master Sheng Yin, together with political leaders and dignitaries in New Zealand, elders and leaders of the Maori people, and representatives of the Christian churches and of the Dalai Lama. This symbolises the unity of the different races, religions and cultures. A gift from the Chief Monk of Thailand, and the Sarira, Sakyamuni Buddh's relics, was displayed in the Main Shrine Hall for devotees to make obeisance and worship.
一九九六年三月開山長老 上 聖 下 印 老和尚臨般涅槃，命 上 常 下 順法師 接任紐西蘭慈明寺暨高雄聖願寺住持，繼其步伐而挑擔大業。
In March 1996, the Founder Reverend Master Sheng Yin entered nirvana. Master Chang Shuen succeeded as the Abbess of the New Zealand Tsi Ming Temple and the Kaohshiung Shen Yuan Temple.
西元 2000 年 佛曆 2544 年月吉日
紐西蘭慈明寺住持 釋常順 謹立
開山老和尚 釋聖印 著
An auspicious day in December in the year 2544 in the Buddhist Calendar (2000CE)
Inscribed by Shih Chang Shuen, Abbess of New Zealand Tsi Ming Temple
Authored by The Great Master, The Venerable Shih Sheng Yin, Founder of Tsi Ming Temple.
