LDS Church breaks ground on Wellington New Zealand temple

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground on its third temple in New Zealand Saturday.

The Wellington New Zealand Temple began construction on Saturday, Aug. 2 with the ceremonial groundbreaking. Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, a general authority for the church, presided over the ceremony, which took place on the grounds of the future temple in Porirua.

“What we will see and witness from this day forth is a mighty change in our communities and our cities,” Elder Wakolo said during the ceremony.

Community members and government leaders alike joined over 500 members of the church to take part in the groundbreaking.

In his speech, Wakolo referenced the church’s first convert baptism in New Zealand which took place near the temple grounds in 1854. Local church leaders also paid homage to early missionaries and converts to the church.

Wakolo said the temple would not only be a symbol of church membership, but also a sign of “faith in life after death” and as a sacred step toward living with family members who have passed on.

Russel M. Nielson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, originally announced the temple during the April 2022 general conference.

The building will stand on a three-acre site overlooking a lagoon.