Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- March 19, 2024 – Elder Rasband Ministers to Temple Patrons in New Zealand
- December 18, 2023 – New Zealand’s Temple View Shines Brightly this Christmas Season
- December 18, 2023 – Our favorite Christmas light displays from temples around the world
News Stories
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Elder Uchtdorf Rededicates the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
"This temple of God will bless this country and people. It will be a light to the nations. It will lessen the influence of the evil one. It will be a beacon of light and a place of hope," said Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The rededication brings an operating temple back to the members of New Zealand who went four years without access to temple ordinances in their country. The renovation completely refurbished the temple, its grounds and supporting buildings.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Open House Visitors Interviewed
The feelings and reactions of guests at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple open house are captured in a new video that highlights the legacy of the historic building and its importance to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Free walking tours of the temple are available through Saturday, 17 September 2022. Book your tour at HamiltonTemple.nz.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Public Tours of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Begin
Invited guest tours are underway at the newly renovated Hamilton New Zealand Temple. The general public is invited to tour the historic building from Friday, August 26, through Saturday, September 17, 2022, except for Sundays, August 28, September 4, and September 11. Tours are free, and visitors can reserve appointments at hamiltontemple.nz. The temple was original dedicated on April 20, 1958, and closed for renovation on July 23, 2018. It was the first temple constructed by the Church in the Southern Hemisphere.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Billboards Advertise the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Open House
Three billboards located in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and the Waikato are advertising the upcoming open house of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. The general public is invited to tour the interior of the temple from Friday, August 26 through Saturday, September 16, 2022, excluding Sundays. Free bookings are encouraged. The last time the temple was open to the public was 64 years ago.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Memories Posted to Social Media
Following the announcement of the open house and rededication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, Church members took to social media to share their memories of the temple. Donna Pitman of Australia said: "I first went to the temple in 1959 when my family was sealed there. I returned in 1978 for my own marriage. What a lovely day that was. I have since returned two other times and now we have our own wonderful temple in Brisbane." Read the news release.
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Open House and Rededication Announced for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The fully renovated Hamilton New Zealand Temple will be rededicated on Sunday, October 16, 2022, by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in three rededicatory sessions held at 9 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3 p.m. The public is invited to tour the interior of the temple from Friday, August 26, through Saturday, September 17, 2022, except for Sundays, August 28, and September 4 and 11. A youth devotional will be held the day before the rededication on Saturday, October 15, 2022.
Photo: Ardmore Helicopters
Building for Eternity: The Story of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Learn the story behind the building of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple in a new video entitled Building for Eternity that premiered at RootsTech 2022 this past weekend. Labour missionaries were called to construct the temple while Church members throughout the region donated food, clothing, and other necessities—consecrating their time, talents, and material gains to build the Church College of New Zealand and the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
Photo: Ross Chaytor
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Video to Premiere on Saturday
A new video chronicling the construction of the Church College of New Zealand and the Hamilton New Zealand Temple by labour missionaries in the 1950s will be premiered at RootsTech 2022 this Saturday morning. Dr. Melanie Riwai-Couch, Church History manager for the Pacific region, said, "The film honours their sacrifices, which live on in the hearts and minds of those educated at the college and in the beautifully renovated temple that stands as a monument to their faith." The renovation of the temple has been completed for several months, but an open house and rededication for the building has not yet been announced.
Photo: R. Smith
New Exhibit Features the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
A devotional and exhibit tour will be held tomorrow at the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre for youth living in the stakes in the Hamilton area of New Zealand. The new exhibit, entitled Sacrifice and Consecration: The Lord Builds a People for the Temple, highlights the unique history behind the construction of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and former Church College of New Zealand, which were built entirely by volunteer missionary labor. The community of Temple View continues to evolve with the renovation of the temple and the repurposing of the college campus. Masterplanned developments are currently under construction that achieve a harmonious blend of historic and modern design with a pleasing balance of man-made and natural spaces.
Landscaping the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Grounds
The front lawn of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple has been removed, and a concrete crew is pouring curbing for the new garden spaces that will border the front stairs and walkways. The long sloping lawn is an iconic feature of the temple grounds. The visitors' center that sits at the base of the hill offers a glorious view of the temple.
Photo: Rob McKay
A New Era for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The rich history of the restored Church in Temple View is evident in the many Church facilities surrounding the hill where the Hamilton New Zealand Temple stands. Renovated and repurposed buildings honor the former Church College of New Zealand and the labor missionaries who constructed both the college and the temple. The community now prepares to enter a new era of the Church in Temple View with a fully renovated temple and visitors' center and newly constructed arrival center, patron and missionary housing units, and maintenance building. The open house and rededication committee has been been organized to prepare for the temple's reopening hopefully later this year.
Photo: Manfred Tuimauga
Arrival Center for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Renovation of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple has now been underway for 30 months, and members look forward to its reopening. The pitched roof of the new arrival center can be seen on the left side of the accompanying photograph, which will provide a place for patrons to freshen up and prepare to enter the temple. The adjoining housing facilities have also been constructed. Work continues on the visitors' center renovation, and the front lawn of the temple has been cleared as landscaping progresses.
Photo: Hero Williams
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Progress
The sun sets on another day at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple where construction crews have made significant progress on the renovation of the temple complex over the past two years. Work continues on the canopy over the entrance to the temple and on the interior of the building while the facade of the visitors' center has been updated to better coordinate with the architecture of the temple. The accommodation center, housing facilities, and grounds building have been constructed on the south side of the property.
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Entrance Canopy
Progress has been made on building a new canopy over the entrance to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple while the concrete crew continues to pour the long set of stairs leading from the street to the beautiful temple at the top of the hill. This is the first major renovation for the 62-year-old building, which is anticipated to be completed next year.
Concrete Work Continues at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The concrete crew has been hard at work at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, having progressed from the car park on the rear side of the building around to the front side of the property. Curbing, sidewalks, stairs, and planters have all been poured over the past several weeks. Scaffolding still surrounds the visitors' center, which is also being refurbished as part of the renovation.
Installing the Hamilton New Zealand Temple Carpark
Concrete crews are pouring the garden spaces, walkways, and stairs for the parking area behind the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. The work is being carried out with care and precision to meet the exacting standards of the project. The historic temple has been under extensive interior and exterior renovation for almost two years.
Photo: Tina Leatuu
Scaffolding Comes Down Around the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The stacks of scaffolding that have surrounded the body of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple for the past year have been removed, leaving just a few sections around the steeple and ground floor. While exterior refurbishment nears completion, interior work continues on the temple and its supporting facilities including a visitors' center, arrival center, and accommodation facilities.
Photo: Coleen Lyman
Young Single Adults Converge on Temple View, New Zealand
The largest national young single adult conference in New Zealand history was held last week in the community of Temple View, where the Hamilton New Zealand Temple is located. The Isles of the Sea event was a huge success, bringing young single adults from far and wide. Renovation of the temple is expected to continue into next year.
Photo: Ronald A. Rasband
Elder Rasband Counsels Young Adults in New Zealand
With the Hamilton New Zealand Temple closed for renovation and construction yet to begin on the Auckland New Zealand Temple, the saints of New Zealand currently find themselves without an operating temple in their country. Acknowledging this situation, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to a group of young adults during a recent visit to New Zealand where he counseled them to be a "recommend people." In a Facebook post, he spoke to all members who may be in a similar situation, saying: "I urge you—do not let your temple recommend go inactive. Strive to spiritually grow—both in your home and at church. Participate in the ordinance of the sacrament every week. Read your scriptures. Pray. Do everything you can to strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ. One day, you will have the opportunity to attend the temple again."
Photo: Anthony Hills
Hamilton New Zealand Temple Housing Buildings
Framing is rising on the slope behind the Hamilton New Zealand Temple for the buildings that will provide housing to patrons and missionaries coming from long distances to serve in the temple. Renovation progresses on the emptied visitors' center, which is surrounded by scaffolding. Many more months of construction remain to complete the renovations and additions to the historic temple complex.
Photo: Leonid Panfilov
Exterior Refurbishment Advancing at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The exterior walls of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple have been repainted, and scaffolding has been removed from the west side of the temple and from around the spire as exterior refurbishment progresses. Work continues on the interior and on the surrounding facilities including the visitors' center and the missionary and patron housing buildings.
Photo: Gordon Chase
Paint Removed from Exterior Walls of Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The iconic white exterior walls of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple are looking a little gray as crews remove the white paint as part of their thorough refurbishment efforts. Stacks of materials sit on the roof of the building to supply to the workers inside who are reconstructing the interior with all new materials. The renovation is expected to continue for another two years.
Photo: Anthony Hills
Refurbishing the Exterior Walls of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
The crisp white walls of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple are currently undergoing cleaning and refurbishment. Crews have erected scaffolding around the building, leaving only the spire clearly in view. For over 60 years, this House of the Lord has stood as New Zealand's only temple, but plans are now underway for construction of the Auckland New Zealand Temple.
Photo: Anthony Hills
Accommodation Facilities Razed at Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Heavy equipment is hard at work behind the Hamilton New Zealand Temple as the ground is prepared for the construction of new accommodation facilities, including an arrival center and housing for patrons and temple missionaries. The former patron accommodation blocks were demolished to make way for the new structures.
Photo: Alexandra Athans
Traditional Christmas Display Absent in New Zealand
Due to the renovation of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, the traditional annual Christmas display on the grounds of the temple was absent this year. Many expressed that they missed experiencing the beautiful sights and sounds of the season. The temple will be closed for at least three years.
Photo: Kaharau Wharemate
Interior Dismantling Continues at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Subcontractors at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple are making progress on clearing and preparing the interior of the historic building for a complete renovation. Scaffolding on the front and rear provides access to the various levels. New Zealanders rejoiced in the recent announcement of the Auckland New Zealand Temple, the second for the island nation.
Photo: Koroniria Amai
Debris Chute at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Scaffolding has been erected on the west side of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple where a temporary enclosure has been constructed over a window, which will serve a pass-through to a debris chute for throw-away items as the interior is carefully and thoroughly dismantled.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Overseas Weddings for New Zealand Latter-day Saints
Due to the recent renovation closure of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple—the only temple in the country—Saints are scheduling their wedding ceremonies at other Pacific temples in Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga. The temple is expected to be closed for three years.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Renderings Released for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Less than a month after the closure of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, an official news release from the Pacific Area published interior and exterior renderings of the renovation plans. The structural and mechanical components of the temple will be significantly upgraded, and the interior will be fully refreshed.
Last Day of Operation at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple
A throng of patrons patiently wait for the Hamilton New Zealand Temple to open on its last day of operation before closing for several years for an extensive renovation. Changes will be made not only to the temple interior but also to the supporting buildings including the patron housing and visitors' center.