Members of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—Elder Peter F. Meurs, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, and Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi—attended Coronation anniversary celebrations for His Majesty Te Kīngi Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki in Ngāruawāhia, near Hamilton, New Zealand on 20 August.
DOWNLOADThe annual Coronation anniversary celebrations provide an opportunity for government, faith, and other community leaders to pay respect to King Tūheitia, to renew old friendships, and to make new ones.
DOWNLOADThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long, rich history with the Māori people of Aotearoa-New Zealand. In fact, the story of the Latter-day Saints of Aotearoa-New Zealand is, for the most part, a Māori story.
DOWNLOADElder Meurs, who served as a young missionary in New Zealand in the 1970’s, reflected on the fact that pioneer members of the Church in New Zealand are the tūpuna (ancestors) of many of the whanau (families) and leaders in the Church today, “who love and honour their legacy of faith.”
DOWNLOADElder Meurs said that the Church remains grateful for the influence and leadership of King Tāwhiao, who was a friend to the Church when it became established in Aotearoa. It was his wish that the Book of Mormon be translated into Māori. That work was completed in 1889 and has been a blessing to Latter-day Saints ever since.
Elder Wakolo said that many Māori spiritual leaders foretold the coming of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Aotearoa New Zealand. He recounted that in March 1881 Paora Pōtangaroa prophesied: ‘My friends, the church for the Māori people has not yet come among us. You will recognize it when it comes. Its missionaries will travel in pairs. They will come from the rising sun. They will visit with us in our homes. They will learn our language and teach us the gospel in our own tongue. When they pray, they will raise their right hands.’ Elder Wakolo explained that as a consequence, many Māori families joined the Church of Jesus Christ.
Seven months later the first Māori baptism in Aotearoa was of a man named Ngataki, in the Waikato area. Ngataki was the first Māori baptised in New Zealand but there was an earlier Māori sailor baptised in 1874 in Honolulu. Many Māori saints followed, with 90 percent of the New Zealand Church made up of Māori saints in 1900. Latter-day Saint congregations continue to be filled with many Māori saints who honour both faith and culture.
DOWNLOADElder Wakolo expressed gratitude to the efforts and sacrifice of Māori members who became labour missionaries who built “our beautiful temple in Hamilton.” He said that these Māori members also helped to build Church schools, meetinghouses, and congregations. “We love them, we honour them, we thank them.”
Elder Wakolo said the Church of Jesus Christ wouldn’t be what it is today in New Zealand without “our devoted Māori members.” He added that many of our congregations in Australia, the USA and other locations are “richly blessed by Māori Latter-day Saints who live there.”
Elder Jaggi said that the relationship between the Church of Jesus Christ and Māori in New Zealand is one which is “precious” and has been “a blessing” from the establishment of the Church in Aotearoa. He said the Church and its members continue to develop and nurture that relationship to “bless the lives of those we serve on behalf of our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
He added that becoming a more multicultural nation and church has many challenges and opportunities. “We are committed to welcoming all to come unto Christ, and to be one in the Lord. Our Māori members are leading the way in this wonderful work.”
Elder Meurs said, “We thank the King, Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki, for his leadership, his warm welcome, and for the people he leads. We are grateful for their goodness, their faith in Jesus Christ, their many positive contributions to this land, and to communities and families.”
DOWNLOADHe concluded, “We hope to become even closer, so we can do more good together. There are many challenges in homes and families. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to God’s commandments, working together to lift lives—this is how God will pour out blessings upon all in this land who will have Him to be their God.”
Later that week, an invited group of Māori saints from across New Zealand met at Takapūwāhia Marae in Porirua to provide recommendations to the Area Presidency about how the Church experience in New Zealand can be improved for Māori Church members.
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