Church Leaders and Community Remember the Legacy of the Māori Agricultural College

Members of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Ian S. Ardern and Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, joined with children and families of the Bridge Pa school, and members of the local community, to celebrate the placement of a historical marker for the Māori Agricultural College (MAC) on Saturday 21 November.

Guests included Henare O’Keefe and Bayden Barber, Hastings District councillors; Patrick Parsons, historian; and Anthony Morley, president of the MAC Sports Club Association Inc.

Guests were welcomed with a powhiri [traditional welcome ceremony] to the Bridge Pa school which stands on the grounds that were part of the MAC campus from 1913-1931.

Elder Ardern shared a history of MAC. He said that in the early years of the 20^th Century, Church leaders saw a need for higher education opportunities for “our precious tamariki [children].”

“The school was to be called the Māori Agricultural College because it was to be focused on Māori,” Elder Ardern said. “Young people from the Pacific Islands also attended MAC.”

Elder Ardern continued: “MAC did such a lot of good in building character. President David O. McKay [Latter-day Saint prophet] said that character is greater than intellect and it was the character that came from the students of the MAC that carried this Church through the war years, when all the missionaries were sent home after the attack on Pearl Harbor.”

“Matthew Cowley [Latter-day Saint missionary, mission leader and apostle] called on the MAC students and they became the leadership of the Church in New Zealand.”

Addressing the young people in attendance, Elder Ardern said: “I want these tamariki to walk past [the memorial marker ] and say, 'This is part of me, and I must remain true, steadfast, strong and faithful.’”

"I witness to you today that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer,” Elder Ardern said. “He loves you. He cares for you. He wants you to hear Him and feel of His love."

Elder Ardern invited the group to listen to President Russell M. Nelson’s message of hope and healing, shared with the world on 20 November. “When you listen to his message you too will feel the love of the Saviour,” he said.

During the meeting Elder Ardern was visibly moved as he looked at the people in attendance.

“This was one of the early hubs of the Church [in New Zealand]. You can feel it today. Standing here today I feel that this is a blessed spot where the Lord put some magnificent people and you’re the fruit of those magnificent people whom the Lord loved so much that he put His Church right here.”

Speaking of MAC students, Anthony Morley said: “They were taught to acknowledge God, they were taught to act in faith, and they were taught to live clean and wholesome lives."

Commemorative coins and buttons were given to guests to remember the occasion. Anthony Morley presented Elders Ardern and Yamashita with honourary MAC ties.

A local choir sang “Kia Ngawari” and “Kia Kotahi” during the meeting.