Latter-day Saints to use Church College land to enhance beauty of temple

Media Release - Tuesday 22 July 2008

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today announced its intention to undertake a beautification project associated with the closure of the Church College of New Zealand at the end of 2009. This project will involve the dismantling of most Church College buildings and returning much of the land to natural pasture similar to the surrounding farm areas.

According to Philip Hague, spokesperson for the Church in New Zealand , the project has as its principal purpose the enhancement of the approach along Tuhikaramea Road to the Hamilton New Zealand Temple . “By returning the land to pasture, the Church will retain its primary focus, both aesthetically and spiritually, on the New Zealand temple,” said Mr Hague. “We don't want an approach to the temple to be one of passing empty and derelict buildings on the former CCNZ campus. Nor do we want the buildings to be used for a purpose that was not conducive to our values.”

In 2006, the Church announced its intention to close the Church College high school campus because of a need to reallocate its monetary and other resources to communities in greater need in other parts of the world.

“The continued growth of the Church internationally requires the Church to constantly re-assess how its resources are targeted,” said Mr Hague. “Given the ready access that Church members have to high quality government schooling throughout New Zealand , there is no longer a need for the Church to provide non-religious education to its young members. We can now concentrate our efforts in other areas, such as the Pacific Islands , where local communities can gain greater benefit from Church assistance.”

Since the 2006 announcement, the Church has been considering possible uses for the grounds which best utilised the local resources of the Church. The consultation process has been wide and detailed with the final decision to return the school lands to pasture having come from the Latter-day Saints' First Presidency - the Church's international governing body. To complete the process, the Church will seek the necessary consents from relevant local government authorities.

Latter-day Saints regard their temples to be their most sacred buildings in which important ceremonies take place that unite families together in the eternities. “Marriages performed within our temples are not just ‘until death do us part',” Mr Hague said. “The promise is that if a husband and wife live their lives according to gospel principles, they and their children can have the joy of a companionship that will never end.”

Mr Hague said that the only place that such marriages could be performed in New Zealand was in the Hamilton temple. Hence, the Church had the greatest desire to preserve the sanctity and beauty of the area surrounding the temple so that Church members and others in the community could continue to enjoy it.

For further information contact

Shane Ta'ala on shane@iglass.co.nz or 021- 033-2885 OR
Philip Hague on haguewp@ldschurch.org or 021-206-6621

Q&A's

What does ‘returning the land to pasture’ mean?
The Church will ensure that the components of all CCNZ buildings designated to be dismantled will be removed, including foundations and other construction elements. No building materials will be left in place. The land will be beautified and grassed. Fencing on the street boundaries will be built to high standards.

What buildings and structures will remain on the site?
The Hamilton New Zealand Temple will remain and will continue to be the Church’s spiritual focal point in Temple View. It is proposed that two CCNZ buildings, the Kai Hall and George R. Biesinger Hall, be retained and incorporated into the temple precinct. If it is determined that these buildings need to be upgraded to reflect seismic or other building requirements, this will occur after consultation with the appropriate civil authorities. The Church is assessing if it is feasible for the sports field, terraced seating, changing rooms and the parking area to be retained for the use of the local community. A decision to retain the sporting facilities is not a certainty, however.

What regulatory consents will be required for the Church to proceed with this proposal?
The church is in the process of determining what consents will be required to proceed with its plans. As has always been the case, it values its close working relationship with the elected officers and staff of the Hamilton City Council and will consult carefully with the relevant personnel to ensure that all legislative requirements are fulfilled.

What opportunities are there for creation of a local high school to replace Church College?
This is a matter for local parents and community leaders to examine. We have been informed that some parties have been investigating a proposal for a high school to be built in association with the existing Koromatua Primary School. The Church is not a participant in these discussions except with reference to being a potential source of real estate.

Has the Church considered other uses for the CCNZ buildings rather than having the buildings removed?
The church has considered other uses for the buildings. However, because they were constructed specifically for a high school, it has made it difficult for them to be altered to any other purpose. It was more likely that the buildings would have remained empty and potentially in disrepair for a considerable period and therefore subject to vandalism. This would have had a detrimental impact on the temple and also on the community. The Church was also concerned to ensure that no activities would occur in the buildings that would have been inconsistent with its own values. Thus, the Church decided that it would have been inappropriate to turn the facility over to other community groups or educational agencies.