Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Story

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Located just outside the city of Hamilton, New Zealand in the suburb of Temple View, it was built with a modern single-spire design very similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple.The site for the temple was first chosen by Wendell B. Mendenhall who had been given a special assignment by LDS Church president David O. McKay to choose the site. The building of an LDS temple in New Zealand was announced by David O. McKay on 17 February 1955. With its completion in 1958, it was the first temple built by the LDS Church in the Southern Hemisphere and the second to be built outside of the United States and Canada.A ground-breaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 21 December 1955. The site of the temple is on 86acre, which includes the LDS-owned Church College of New Zealand, formerly a secondary school for students aged twelve to eighteen. The temple is 44212sqft, has one ordinance room, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry. The spire rises to a height of 157ft. The temple was built entirely by church labour missionaries who volunteered all of their time. Local members supported these workers with money, food, and lodging.