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Story: Ngā hāhi – Māori and Christian denominations

Mormon chapel, Hawke's Bay

Mormon chapel, Hawke's Bay

Most Mormon chapels in New Zealand are built to a similar design – long, low white masonry structures. This one is at Te Hauke, a small settlement in Hawke's Bay. It is the largest and most impressive building in Te Hauke, indicating the important place the Mormon Church holds in many small and mainly Māori communities such as this.

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Private collection

by Basil Keane

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How to cite this page

Hirini Kaa, Ngā hāhi – Māori and Christian denominations – Mormon Church, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/30649/mormon-chapel-hawkes-bay (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Hirini Kaa, published 7 April 2011, updated 1 March 2017.

Comments

Te Ara
13 October 2011
Thanks for that Jared. I've updated the caption accordingly.
Jared Viljoen
11 October 2011
Great article. Just one point of clarification. The picture above is of Chapel, not a Temple. There is only one Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in NZ, and that is in Templeview, Hamilton. Chapels are places where local congregations meet for Sabbath services and weekly activities. They are also used for recreational/cultural purposes. Temples differ from Chapels. They are sacred buildings, recognised by Latter-Day Saints as 'Houses of God' and only members of the Church in good standing are permitted to enter. Sacred ordinances such a Sealings (Marriages) and Baptisms for the Dead are performed in Temples. Sunday congregational worship services are not held in Temples. Temples are closed on Sunday. Regards, Jared Viljoen.