Hollywood star Tom Cruise is one of several high-profile Scientologists.

A scientologist doctor invited patients at her 'holistic' medical practice to the opening of a $16m New Zealand Scientologist headquarters.

Dr Helen Smith invited patients from the Auckland Holistic Centre to attend the grand opening at a restored heritage building in central Auckland on January 21.

Several patients were understood to have felt the invitations were inappropriate.

LAWRENCE SMITH / FAIRFAX NZ The new headquarters of the Church of Scientology in New Zealand is opening in January.

Smith declined to comment, referring inquiries about the opening to Sei Kato, a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Australia and Asia Pacific.

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LAWRENCE SMITH / FAIRFAX NZ Head of the New Zealand branch of The Church of Scientology Mike Ferris.

Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge said if the contact details of patients had been used to send them an invite for something unrelated to their medical care, then it could constitute a breach of the Privacy Act.

"The patients can lay a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner if they feel aggrieved.

"The Privacy Act clearly states that you can't use information collected for example by a medical practise and spam those patients to promote something else entirely," said Hodge.

It's understood the Church is expecting a large number of Scientologists from New Zealand and overseas to attend the opening later this month, however it's unlikely to include the most famous followers such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Dr Smith says she is medical doctor practising holistic medicine. On her website, she posts links to other forms of Scientology treatments such as drug rehab services, school reading programmes and dianetics, a system developed by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

She has been a Scientologist for several decades.

The Auckland Church of Scientology is scheduled to be unveiled on 21 January, almost nine years after the heritage-listed building was bought for more than $10 million in 2007.

Restoration of the 90 year old building was estimated to cost millions more.