LDS Church College

May 5, 2010

We are in Hamilton, New Zealand…the location of the New Zealand Temple and Church College. We dropped by the Church College yesterday. It was a school for 12 to 18 year olds. It started in about 1958 when the temple was built. Apparently the New Zealand government didn’t think educating the Maoris was important so a school was built - Maori College. Toward the end of the 1930’s an earthquake destroyed the school, so the LDS church bought the property and built a school which would educate all students. Some also have said the New Zealand public schools weren’t what they were supposed to be either, so a school was built. I think I remember about 4000 students, many of them were boarding students. Several people we know have gone to the school. The facilities have worn down and weren’t passing codes. The country’s schools had improved greatly so the school was closed last year. Now the LDS church is trying to decide what to do with the property. There is a large building in the middle which is called the David O. McKay building. The surrounding communities use it for their stake conferences so that building may be kept. Paul Geno, of Agricultural Reserves Inc. (LDS church’s Farm Management), is wondering how to use the agricultural land around it. He has contacted Jack a few times to ask questions about what is being done at Lincoln University. It was really a fascinating place.