The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand

A Latter-day Saint assembly hall in New Zealand in 1912

New Zealand was already deeply religious with many Christian sects by the time Mormon missionaries arrived.[7] Formal LDS Church missionary proselytizing began on 20 October 1854 by William Cooke and Thomas Holden, under the direction of mission president Augustus Farnham. All three men left for the island from the United States on the William Denney. However, due to lack of materials and interested individuals, the initial work was slow up until the 1870s when missionaries had more resources.[8] These first proselyting efforts began as part of the Australasian Missionary efforts. In 1855, the first branch of the LDS Church was organized at Karori, with the next organized in Kaiapoi in 1867.[7] The first stakes of New Zealand were created in Auckland on 18 May 1958, and then in Hamilton and Hawkes Bay in 1960.[8]^: 93 On 4 August 1897, the Australasian Mission was divided to give New Zealand its own respective mission.[8] The mission was again divided in May 1958 to include a New Zealand South portion.[8] As of May 2017, New Zealand has three missions based in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton, respectively.[9] The LDS Church continues to hold a notable and respected presence in New Zealand, the first account being when Colonial Minister of Native affairs praised Mormonism for bringing good citizens to his nation back in 1912.[10]

Despite the country being more than three quarters Māori, primitive missionary efforts focused on teaching the English-speaking Europeans living within New Zealand.[11]^: 284 It was not until the 1880s that missionary efforts shifted from exclusively preaching to the Pākehā (Europeans) to branching out to the native Māori population.[11]^: 253 The early success that Mormon missionaries had amidst Māori has been thought to be because the Mormon religion was founded in the United States. One theory was that the churches associated with the British were despised by these natives, and the LDS Church was more accepted as a result. Other theories attribute Mormon success in New Zealand to early Christian missionaries who first began to persuade the natives out of their traditional habits that were alarming to Europeans and contrary to Mormon standards of living (cannibalism, nudism, etc.), thereby creating a more Westernized people for the Mormons to influence.[7][8] Another factor was that both the church and Māori had a focus on genealogy (whakapapa).[12]

By 1886, translation of the Word of Wisdom and the Articles of Faith was completed by Ezra F. Richards.[8]^: 23 In this same year, attempts to translate the Book of Mormon by various elders and mission presidents began. The most notable translators were Ezra F. Richards and Sondra Sanders, although some records state that William T. Steward and James Jury were other notable translators.[11]^: 278 On 26 April 1887, a home in the Waiapu District was dedicated for the translation of the Book of Mormon and in November of that same year, translation of the book was officially completed.[8]^: 24 The first editions of the Book of Mormon in the Māori language were published by the Star Publishing Company of Auckland. The entire cost of £371 to print the Book of Mormon was paid for by local New Zealand church members.[11]^: 279 In 1917, the second edition was published after extensive edits were made by Matthew Cowley under the direction of James N. Lambert. Shortly after its publication, Cowley was called to start the translation of other sacred texts. With the help of Wiremu Duncan and Stuart Meha, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were translated and eventually published in 1919.[8]^: 25

David O. McKay (Church president from 1951 to 1970) toured New Zealand in 1921.

In 1921, David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon began a Pacific-wide tour of the Church. McKay was the first apostle to visit New Zealand; celebrations were organized to commemorate the event. On 21 April 1921, they were received with various cultural performances, athletic competitions, and feasts of local cuisine. After the celebration concluded, a more spiritual meeting was held. Regarding his remarks, McKay felt strongly that he should deliver his address without translation.[11]^: 304 Multiple accounts state that during his address to the native Māori people, McKay was initially going to have a translator. When he went up to speak, however, he decided that a translation would inhibit the power of his message and decided to give the speech in English instead. Despite this language barrier, Māori people recall being able to understand his talk with complete clarity. When the message was eventually translated into Māori, many natives who were in attendance offered up correct translations of the speech from what they understood (regardless of the message being delivered in English).[8] Members attributed their comprehension of the English speech to the gift of tongues.[13][8]^: 55

Hamilton

Auckland

Wellington

Temples in New Zealand

• = Operating
• = Under construction
• = Announced
• = Temporarily Closed

Groundbreaking for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was held on 21 December 1955.[8]^: 31 Following construction, a general public open house was held from 23 March to 13 April 1958, with the dedication by LDS Church president David O. McKay taking place seven days later on 20 April 1958.[8]^: 85 Other officials from Salt Lake City in attendance included Delbert L. Stapley, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Marion G. Romney.[8]^: 88 [13]

During the church's October 2018 general conference, the intent to construct a temple in Auckland was announced. During the April 2022 general conference, the President announced the intention to construct a third New Zealand temple in Wellington.

	11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple Official website News & images
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking: Dedicated: Rededicated: Size: Style:	Hamilton, New Zealand February 17, 1955 by David O. McKay December 21, 1955 by Ariel Ballif, Wendell B. Mendenhall, and George R. Biesinger April 20, 1958 by David O. McKay 16 October 2022 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf[15] 45,251 sq ft (4,204.0 m2) on a 86-acre (35 ha) site Modern contemporary, single spire - designed by Edward O. Anderson
	195. Auckland New Zealand Temple (Under construction) Official website News & images
	Location: Announced: Groundbreaking:	Auckland, New Zealand 7 October 2018 by Russell M. Nelson[16][17] 13 June 2020 by Ian S. Ardern[18] on a 2.62-acre (1.06 ha) site
	268. Wellington New Zealand Temple (Site announced) Official website News & images
	Location: Announced: Size:	Porirua, New Zealand 3 April 2022 by Russell M. Nelson[19][20] 14,900 sq ft (1,380 m2) on a 3.35-acre (1.36 ha) site

• Religion in New Zealand
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Cook Islands

• New Zealand: Facts and Statistics
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Pacific Area
• ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site