Church Statement on Temple View Development
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints closed the Church College of New Zealand (CCNZ)
in 2009. The Church’s original desire to demolish many of the school buildings, followed by repurposing the former
campus for other uses, was amended insomuch that repurposing options might be considered ahead of any removal of
buildings. With that change in strategy and while repurposing plans have been developed, the former school buildings
and old teacher homes still remain intact.
However, following four years of research, analysis, and consultation, the Church has now submitted into the Hamilton
City Council a resource consent application for an upgrade of Tuhikaramea Road, a new stake centre (chapel) and
car-park, and new Legacy Park. This development requires the demolition of many of the eastern former teacher houses,
and the boys’ dormitories and old medical centre.
The resource consent will be public notified followed by a hearing in front of independent commissioners. This
application is the first of others that the Church is moving forward in an effort to repurpose the former CCNZ campus.
The proposed stake centre will be the largest in New Zealand and will not follow the Church’s standard plan design of
other worship facilities they have built in this country. A few of the features previously provided by the David O.
McKay Building have been incorporated into the design of this new stake centre building.
The Tuhikaramea Road upgrade includes improvements to infrastructure, construction of new roundabouts, updated lighting,
trees, and footpaths, new pedestrian crossings and roadside parking. The Legacy Park is to be constructed in memory of
the labour missionaries and will include boardwalks, trees, other amenity plantings and water features to enhance the
quiet reverence surrounding the Temple grounds and provide an enjoyable peaceful experience for visitors to the temple
and for the local community.
Plans are also being developed to remodel the Mendenhall Library for the New Zealand Hamilton Mission offices, proposed
Church History Museum, little theatre and a classroom for education and other uses. The George R. Biesinger home, built
for the American building supervisor by labour missionaries, will also be structurally and functionally remodeled.
Both the Library and Biesinger home are heritage buildings so any remodel will preserve the heritage values of these two
facilities.
We express appreciation to consulting planner, engineers, Iwi, architects, urban designers, archaeologists, legal
counsel, Church and community leaders, and Hamilton City Council officials for their expertise and ongoing assistance.
ENDS