Groundbreaking of the Auckland New Zealand Temple
The groundbreaking of the Auckland New Zealand Temple was presided over by Elder Ian S. Ardern, president of the Pacific Area, on June 13, 2020. Government leaders, like Mayor Phil Goff of Auckland and Hon Aupito William Sio, Minister for Pacific Peoples, were also in attendance.
In his remarks at the event, Elder Ardern said, “The temple will be a beautiful, bright light in the city of Auckland, inviting all to come unto Christ.”
The Auckland New Zealand Temple is scheduled to be dedicated April 13, 2025, by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Timeline of the Auckland New Zealand Temple
The Auckland New Zealand Temple was announced Oct. 7, 2018, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking and site dedication for this house of the Lord were held on June 13, 2020, and presided over by Elder Ian S. Ardern, Pacific Area president.
After a public open house from Feb. 27 to March 22, 2025, the Auckland New Zealand Temple will be dedicated April 13, 2025, by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Auckland New Zealand Temple
The multilevel building of approximately 45,455 square feet features design motifs that include New Zealand flora — kōwhai flower, pōhutukawa tree, manuka tree, kauri tree and silver fern — as well as the blue and green colors of the pāua shell, with accents of gold. Designs also feature Māori basket weave patterns.
Flooring provides visual ties to New Zealand, with green quartzite stone reminiscent of New Zealand jade (pounamu) and the white calacatta caldia marble calling to mind the word “Aotearoa,” the Indigenous Māori name for New Zealand, meaning “land of the long white clouds.”
Art-glass designs reflect the same New Zealand flora, along with blue, green, yellow and clear textured glass. Also, the millwork and doors feature Tasmanian oak, a native Australian eucalyptus wood.
Landscaping across the 11.4-acre site features 250 large trees, including native kōwhai, nīkau palms and pōhutukawa trees. Two of the latter were transplanted from a site in central Auckland, where they would have been cut down. The grounds also include shrub gardens, seasonally rotated flowers and lawns.
Interior Photos of the Auckland New Zealand Temple
