News Release

Hapori Park’s Show Home Receives Blessing by Local Iwi

The first home is completed in new residential development near Hamilton

The first of many new homes to be built in the new Hapori Park subdivision in Temple View was given a special blessing by an elder of the Ngaati Maahanga on 26 May 2021.

The project is being developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land and building packages are being sold by Classic Builders Waikato to the public. The development is located in Temple View, near the Hamilton Temple in central New Zealand.

Temple View is in the ancestral lands of the Ngaati Maahanga.

Paratai Tai Rakena began the ceremony at dawn with a karanga, followed by Atutahi Riki who led a small group through the show home, reciting his blessings in Te Reo Māori as he went.

“Some of the karakia and callings that we use here have been used from years ago from when our ancestors came and settled here. It is a pleasure for us to be here. What we are doing today is a wonderful thing and I’m sure the Lord would agree with that,” he said.

“We recognise this land as having special significance to the Church, Ngaati Maahanga, and the many generations who have made Temple View their home,” said Adam Aalders, Temple View project director for the Church. “It is a place of education and learning, and a place of worship.”

He expressed his sincere appreciation to Ngaati Maahanga for their blessing of the first home.

“We are grateful to have achieved this important milestone with the completion of the first of many new homes to be built in Hapori Park at Temple View.”

Representatives-from-Ngaati-Maahanga,-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints,-Classic-Builders-and-Classic-Development-at-the-blessing-of-the-first-home-in-the-Hapori-Park-subdivision.--New-Zealand,-May-2021
Representatives-from-Ngaati-Maahanga,-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints,-Classic-Builders-and-Classic-Development-at-the-blessing-of-the-first-home-in-the-Hapori-Park-subdivision.--New-Zealand,-May-2021
Representatives from Ngaati Maahanga, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Classic Builders and Classic Development at the blessing of the show home in the Hapori Park subdivision. New Zealand, May 20212021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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"It’s been exciting to see so much interest from those who would like to make Hapori Park a home for their families and we look forward to seeing the establishment of this new community in the years ahead."

Aalders also recognized Classic Developments NZ and Classic Builders Waikato for their significant contributions to the project.

Read a Waikato Times newspaper article about the project.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.