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The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in New Zealand
The island of New Zealand was already deeply religious with many Christ-focused sects by the time Mormon missionaries arrived. Formal LDS missionary proselyting began on October 20, 1854 by William Cooke and Thomas Holden under the direction of mission president Augustus Farnham. All three men left for the island from the United States on the "William Denney." However, due to lack of materials and interested inividuals the initial work was slow up until the 1870s when more resources were accrued. These first proselyting efforts began as part of the Australasian Missionary efforts. In 1855, the first branch of the Church was organized at Karori, and the next was organized in Kaiapoi in 1867. The first stakes of New Zealand were created in Auckland on May 18, 1958, and then in Hamilton and Hawkes Bay in 1960. On August 4, 1897 the Australasian mission was divided to give New Zealand its own respective mission. The mission was again divided in May of 1958 to include a New Zealand South portion. As of May 2017, New Zealand now has three missions based in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton, respectively. The Church continues to hold a notable and respected presence in New Zealand, the first account being when Colonial Minister of Native affairs praised Mormonism for bringing good citizens to his nation back in 1912.

Despite the country being more than three quarters Maori, primitive missionary efforts focused on teaching the English-speaking Europeans living within New Zealand. It wasn't until the 1880s that missionary efforts shifted from exclusively preaching to the pakeha (the Caucasians) to branching out to the native Maori population. The early success that Mormon missionaries had amidst Maoris has been thought to be so because of the great land question between British Christian settlers and native tribes of New Zealand. Supposedly the churches associated with the British were despised by these natives, and the Mormon Church was more accepted as a result. Other theories attribute Mormon success in New Zealand to early Christian missionaries who first began to condition the natives out of their traditional habits that were more savage and contrary to Mormon standards of living (cannibalism, nudism, etc.), thereby creating a more civilized people for the Mormons to indoctrinate.

New Zealand Mission presidents

 * William M. Bromley (1881-83)
 * William T. Stewart (1883-86, 91-93)
 * William Paxman (1886-89)
 * Charles B. Bartlett (1892)
 * Ezra T. Stevenson (1898-1900)
 * Louis G. Hoagland (1905- )
 * A. Reed Halverson
 * James N. Lambert
 * O.D. Romney (1912)
 * Rufus K. Hardy (1933-34)
 * Gordon C. Young (1951)
 * Ballif

Standard Work Translations
By 1886 translation of the Word of Wisdom and the Article of Faith was completed by Ezra F. Richards. In this same year attempts to translate the Book of Mormon began by various elders and mission presidents, the most notable being Elders Ezra F. Richards and Sondra Sanders, although some records state William T. Steward and James Jury as other notable translators. In April 26, 1887 a home in the Waiapu District was dedicated for the translation of the Book of Mormon and in November of that same year translation of the book was officially completed. The first editions of the Book of Mormon in the Maori language were published by the Star Publishing Company of Auckland. The entire cost of £371 to print the Book of Mormon was paid for by local New Zealand church members In 1917, the second edition was publish after extensive edits were made by Elder Matthew Cowley under the direction of President James N. Lambert. Shortly after its publication, Cowley was again called to start the translation of other sacred texts. This time with the help of Wiremu Duncan and Stuart Meha, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were translated and eventually published in 1919.

New Zealand Temple
The New Zealand Temple groundbreaking was held on December 21, 1935. The general public viewing was held from March 23rd to April 13, 1958 with the dedicated by David O. McKay taking place just seven days later. Other Salt Lake City officials in attendance include Delbert L. Stapley, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Marion G. Romney.

Maori Language Act of 1987
Prior to the Act, the Church was run in the English language alone. The Act declared Maori as the official language of New Zealand and was a huge stepping stone in the reintroduction of biculturalism into the Church. Following the Act, the Church removed language restrictions from church meetings, blessings, and more importantly funerals (a sacred Maori practice). The first noted church events under this new Act include the dedication of the LDS marae (community center) and wharenui (large ceremonial house) in 1994 at the church college, both of which were performed in the Maori language.

Mormon Schools
After seeing a growing need for education in Maori villages, Mormons took it upon themselves to open elementary schools to teach children in the English Language. As early as 1977, multiple efforts were made to start private schools that were eventually closed due to lack of interest or to government schools opening in similar geographic areas. In fact, a government policy passed in 1922 caused more primary schools to open and for all schools to undergo inspection, of which most church schools did not pass. Despite the mass reduction in church schools, one school, the Maori Agricultural College, was opened as an effort to educate local Mormons in agriculture as well as combine secular knowledge with the spiritual. The school was dedicated in 1913 by Orson D. Romney. The school had strong music and sports programs and the majority of its teachers and supplies came from the United States. In 1915, the Church invested in 136 acres of land to add to the school. On this land they began raising pigs, chickens and other farm animals as an added means of income. Despite the school's growth, church leaders in Salt Lake City were concerned with its lack of matriculate growth and prestige that they considered closing it down. Before this order could be made official, however, the Napier earthquake of 1931 destroyed the building and ended its use.

Years later, under the direction of the church and a local desire to reinstate a church-run school, the Church College of New Zealand was built and later dedicated on April 24, 1958. The college experienced great success, and on January 11, 1958, 18 American teachers were sent on the Mariposa to meet the needs of the area. What was different about this new college church was the emphasis to hire fully qualified teachers. In addition to the Church's involvement in formal education, they also began to operate the seminary program in New Zealand. In 1968, the first seminary class was held in Kaikohe. In 1970, the seminary program was officially instituted in the country.

Government Relations
The church experienced various interactions with local New Zealand leaders. One of the first recorded incidents took place in 1902 when President Bartlett requested that various elders be given permission to perform weddings. The request was denied, and Bartlett took legal measures to re-appeal. He eventually received permission for two elders. <ref name="unto the islands" In 1917 a temporary missionary ban was instituted. This ban was formed under the premise that American missionaries were allegedly trying to convince Maori natives to move to America with them.

Mormon Myths and Miracles
In 1921, David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon began a Pacific-wide tour of the Church. McKay was the first apostle to visit New Zealand and so celebrations were organized to commemorate the event. On April 21, 1921, they were received with various cultural performances, athletic competitions, and feasts of local cuisine. After the celebration concluded, a more spiritual meeting was held. Regarding his remarks, McKay felt strongly that he should deliver his address without translation. Multiple accounts state that during his address to the native Maori people, McKay was initially going to have a translator. When he went up to speak, however, he decided that a translation would inhibit the power of his message and decided to give the speech in English instead. Despite this language barrier, natives recall being able to understand his talk with complete clarity. In fact, when the message was eventually translated into Maori, many natives who were in attendance offered up correct translations of the speech from what they understood (regardless of the message being delivered in English). This meeting was said to be one of the gift of tongues. Another supposed Mormon myth occurred in April 1918. It is said that Matthew Cowley, a former missionary serving in New Zealand, was assigned to translate the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants into Maori. It is unclear as to whether Cowley offered the first translation of these two books or if he was charged to revise them.