Hamilton New Zealand Temple |
11th operating temple |
Phone Number: (64) 7-846-2750.
Site: 86 acres (including college grounds).
Exterior Finish: Reinforced concrete block manufactured at site; white painted structural steel.
Temple Design: Modern-contemporary, single-spire design but similar to lines of early Church temples.
Number of Rooms: One ordinance room and five sealing.
Total Floor Area: 44,212 square feet.
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 21 December 1955 by Ariel Ballif, Wendell B. Mendenhall, and George R. Biesinger
Public Open House: 28 March–19 April 1958
Dedication: 20–22 April 1958 by David O. McKay
Situated atop a stately hill in the rural outskirts of Hamilton, the Hamilton New Zealand Temple overlooks the 86 acres it shares with the Church College of New Zealand—a Church-operated school for students ages twelve to eighteen (scheduled for permanent closure in December 2009). At the base of the hill is a popular public visitors' center, surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens. Guides are available to answer questions and direct visitors to the numerous displays on site including a magnificent replica of the Christus statue. At Christmastime, the grounds are filled with a dazzling spectacle of lights and displays.
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was the first temple built in the Southern Hemisphere and second built in Polynesia, following the Laie Hawaii Temple (1919).
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was originally named the New Zealand Temple.
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is a sister building to the Bern Switzerland Temple.
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple and adjoining Church College of New Zealand (to be permanently closed in December 2009) were both built entirely by volunteer missionary labor.
Prior to its dedication, some 112,500 visitors toured the Hamilton New Zealand Temple during its public open house.
The Church College of New Zealand was dedicated six days after the dedication of the adjoining Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
The first stake in New Zealand was created the month after the dedication of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple in the city of Auckland, about 80 miles north of Hamilton.
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple closed in 1993 for two months to replace wall coverings and furnishings. In 1994, the temple closed again for 9 months for a more extensive renovation that included installation of air conditioning and removal of asbestos.
