Hamilton's Waikato Compassion Meditation Centre (WCMC) is a Buddhist vihara established in the Sri Lankan tradition but operating as a non-sectarian centre for meditation, Buddhist teachings and practices. Although run mainly by Hamilton's Sri Lankan community, the centre reaches out to everyone in the Waikato community and a number of Kiwis also participate in its activities. The centre opened in Bankwood Road, Chartwell, in 2002 but moved to its present location in Silverdale in 2006.

The centre is open to anyone interested in finding greater peace and contentment in their lives by exploring the Buddhist path. The centre caters for both the Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions and for people from a more Western way of life. Buddhist or not, you are welcome to participate in our activities, teachings and meditations to whatever extent you wish.
The monks are always available to give advice and guidance, whether you are merely interested, a beginner or a long-term practitioner.

Chief Incumbent

Venerable Dunuvila Metteyya Maha Thero

Venerable Dunuvila Metteyya Maha Thero (Bhante Metteyya) is the chief incumbent of Waikato Compassion Meditation Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand. Venerable is also the Patron Monk of the Meditation Trust. Venerable Maha Thero’s main Buddhist center in Sri Lanka is Rajawalukaramaya, New Town, Digana. He has been a Buddhist monk over 40 years in Theravada Buddhism (early Buddhism).

He was born in 1964, and entered the Buddhist Order in 1973 under the guidance of his most venerable teacher Waradiwela Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thero and later received higher ordination in 1985 while residing at Bandiya temple, Wekada, Panadura. Having completed BA degree at the University of Colombo and MA degree at Buddhist and Pali University in Colombo and Diploma in Education at the University of Peradeniya, thero joined the education service in Sri Lanka. Over ten years of his service as a school teacher, he left for Washington DC, USA to serve the Buddhist community in the States as a resident monk of Washington Buddhist Vihara in 2000.

Later the Thero was invited to come to New Zealand by venerable Makuldeniye Somarathana Maha Thero, the founder and the chief monk and patron of Samadhi Buddhist Vihara in Christchurch, New Zealand to serve the Buddhist community in Canterbury.

In 2005 venerable was invited to come to Hamilton to serve the Buddhist community in Hamilton as the chief incumbent by most venerable Bootawatte Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero, the founder of Hamilton Buddhist Vihara, While giving religious, cultural and spiritual services to the Buddhist community in Hamilton. Maha Thero provided guidance and services to ACBL in Auckland for four years from 2006 to 2010. In 2006, the Thero assumed the responsibilities of Chief Incumbent of Compassion Buddhist Vihara and Patron Monk of Compassion Buddhist Vihara in Hamilton as the successor to most venerable Bootawatte Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero. Since then Metteyya Maha Thero had taken many initiatives and guided WCMC to develop Hamilton Vihara, a premier Theravada Buddhist Center in Hamilton, New Zealand.