The request includes broadcasts on the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks and during two major Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

The decision comes after Mayor Tory Whanau introduced a proposal earlier this year to review noise limits for both music venues and religious broadcasts.

As part of the review, the Wellington City Council is exploring whether mosques and other religious buildings should be allowed to use loudspeakers for public calls-to-prayer.

Community concerns addressed

Some community members voiced concerns regarding how often and how loud these broadcasts would be, with one anti-Council leaflet urging Wellingtonians to "take back your city!"

However, documents from the Council clarify that the call-to-prayer would last only about one-and-a-half to two minutes and would not be a neighbourhood-wide broadcast.

Instead, the sound would be contained to the mosque forecourt using a sound system for the benefit of those attending.

"We can commemorate the events that happened on that day and mosques won't have a noise restriction, much like church bells" Mayor Whanau said when addressing concerns on Newstalk ZB.

Proposal goes to Council for approval

Councillors discussed the proposal at Thursday's Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting.

Under the current plan, the call-to-prayer broadcasts would not require resource consent as long as the sound is kept to two minutes or less.

However, any future request to broadcast the call on a regular basis would need Council approval.

"Should the intent change in the future and mosques seek to broadcast call-to-prayer on a more frequent and regular basis, resource consent would be required" Council documents confirm.

Mayor Whanau also noted that broadcasting the call-to-prayer multiple times a day would "probably not" be reasonable, reassuring concerned residents that daily broadcasts are not on the agenda under current rules.

The Council will make a final decision after Thursday's meeting but, for now, the proposal aims to allow limited, respectful broadcasts during significant Islamic events.

Source

NZ Herald

Whanau was on air at the time talking to The Platform's Sean Plunkett.

"The Platform has received quite a bit of feedback regarding the district plan vote Thursday on the broadcast of the Call to Prayer" Plunkett said to Whanau.

Plunket understood the council discussion to broadcast the Call to Prayer was originally in the name of Whanau, however it was switched to Councillor Rebecca Matthews.

When Plunket sought confirmation on where the idea came from, Whanau told him to talk to her office.

Pressed, Whanau said "Jesus Christ Sean, umm, I'll come back to you."

Civil harmony

On Wednesday, Wellington Councillor Nicola Young also discussed broadcasting the call to prayer with Heather du Plessis-Allan on NewtalkZB Drive.

In a respectful conversation, Young said she feels allowing calls to prayer would make Wellington the laughingstock of New Zealand - and would be offensive to most people.

"Because New Zealand is a secular country ... I think we're the third-most atheist country in the world" she says.

"Why would we start having prayers being broadcast?

"A lot of people would find it incredibly offensive" she told du Plessis-Allan.

When asked about the Capital's church bells, Young said "They play once, on a Sunday, which is rather different from five or six times a day, every day.

"Allowing mosques to broadcast their call one day a week and churches to ring their bells once a week would be ridiculous" she said.

"We have to stop this."

She refers to the Education Act 1877 which speaks of harmony and keeping religion private.

People are outraged, she says.

Sort out the water leaks and fix the sewers

Feedback suggests the Council should focus on infrastructure rather than "distractions" like this.

Young calls the Mosque's "Call to Prayer" request a distraction for the Wellington City Council saying such issues aren't what they need to consider.

The City Council should stick to its municipal role, things like dealing urgently with water and sewage infrastructure Young suggested.

Local Mosques reportedly asked the council to change noise control regulations so they can play calls to prayer over outdoor speakers as is done in Muslim countries.

Investigation underway

The Wellington City Council voted to use ratepayers' money and instructed the council officials to investigate how calls to prayer could be made.

It wants to know if changes to noise rules would need to be made to enable the request.

A council spokesperson says any rule changes would be subject to public consultation.

• NewtalkZB
• The Platform