Auckland perspective of the Envisioning Meetings being held around NZ to 'drum up support'

Below is the perspective of an Auckland LDS (mormon) member who attended the Envisioning Meeting a few weeks ago. These are their comments below:


Comments:


These meetings have be held throughout New Zealand from Dunedin in the South Island. It is obvious they are drumming up support for their plans and then presenting this to the Presiding Bishopric, Quorum of 12, and First Presidency to state that the people of NZ support their plan. I thought we lived under a Theocracy, whereby the Brethren speak and we obey. But thisagenda is going from the people to the brethren to state we accept the plan.Strange!!!


The meeting was to show their plans for the new roading, homes and Stake Centre. A question was asked what numbers signified approval for such a Stake Centre. Kent Money stated that Temple View Stake met the criteria, yet when the Tamaki Stake, who were getting between 2,550 and 3,000 members attend their conference were downgraded to a small stake centre. Then the Area office were not convinced the numbers were correct sent some people from the Area Office to do the count and the number came to 3,000. How disgraceful this was when the brethren would not accept the count from the Stake President who is one who holds the Keys of the Priesthood. Let alone they had to have half the wards meet in the morning conference, and the other half meet in the afternoon. The Stake President went to conference and met with Bishop Burton, who also indicated they were not entitled to a larger chapel, but when he had his secretary bring the report on the stake to him, and viewing his numbers finally agreed to a bigger chapel.


Kent Money stated the Temple View Stake Centre would also act as a community centre for those stakes that were to use Hamon’s Bush for their activities. Anyway I am not convinced this stake centre will in fact materialize as they have planned.


Housing will start at $365,000.00 and more if the people wish to add more rooms. The Temple is going to go through a major refit at some time, which will be at least a couple of years out of action. With the land already secured for a possible Temple in Auckland, why would anyone want to move south. So most of the time was talking about the roading, housing and Harmon’s Bush development.


I asked Kent Money what did they have for plan B in the event the David O McKay was rejected for demolition. He stated that they will address that later, but that he said the CCNZ campus looked tired. Well cause it does because a simple coat of paint would restore it to looking immaculate. Kent also stated that seismic report showed that the David O McKay has a swaying problem. Is that all!!! I thought they said it was on land that is high in liquefaction. Also I reject this claim.


However I perceive that the Brethren are waiting for the Envision Group to come back to them with a report, which we all know will be fabricated. If we had the funds we should have an independent surveyor go through the report and be allowed on campus to do their findings.


When Dr Manahi Nitama Paewai (Doc Paewai), was a member of the original board of trustees, and even before the college opened, he suggested to the brethren that CCNZ should be a university and not a high school, because he stated, our education system in NZ was well in advance of many other countries. I know CCNZ will never be a high school again, but give thethought, it would be a great university. Students would be able to apply for student loans. The church would not be burdened with huge financial strain on their resources, and our young men and women would not have to go to Hawaii, but remain here and receive a high level of education. Food for thought.