Hours before presiding at a conference this past weekend for members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kaikohe, New Zealand, Elder O. Vincent Haleck was officially welcomed on to the Kohewhata Marae by local Māori.
Elder Haleck is the president of the Pacific Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Peggy Haleck, as well as Elder Allistair B. Odgers, an Area Seventy from Christchurch, and President James Walker and Sister Harumi Walker of the Church’s New Zealand Auckland Mission.
Local Latter-day Saint leaders, including Trevor Beatson, president of the Kaikohe New Zealand Stake, were also present during the welcome.
President Beatson said that “Ngā Puhi [a tribal group comprising much of New Zealand’s Northland] were greatly honoured to welcome him.”
The ceremony welcoming the Latter-day Saint leaders to the region is called a pōwhiri.
“It is reserved for distinguished visitors forging an eternal connection to the people of the land,” said Shane Wikaira, a counselor in the Kaikohe stake presidency.
After the pōwhiri, Elder Haleck said, “Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children. His Māori children are precious in His sight. We were touched and honoured by the welcome we received. As a church we are committed to reaching out in Christ-like love and friendship to all of our neighbours and friends, including our Māori brothers and sisters.”
Following the welcome, Elder Haleck and others spoke to members and guests at a conference on Saturday and Sunday, 26-27 May, at the Church’s Kaikohe New Zealand Stake Centre.
Among topics discussed at the conference were the Plan of Salvation, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, ways to strengthen faith and family, and suggestions for ministering to each other as Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated during his mortal life.
In 2017 the Church opened the Matthew Cowley Pacific Church History Centre in Temple View on the outskirts of Hamilton. It includes a number of exhibits representing the strong relationship between Māori and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read more about the rich and long history of Latter-day Saints and the Māori people of New Zealand.
Images: Polly Hati