Fires Damage Latter-day Saints Chapels in New Zealand and New Caledonia

TE HAUKE, New Zealand — Two meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were damaged by fires on Sunday, October 12, 2025. The first fire broke out early in the morning at a chapel in Te Hauke, located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. Firefighters successfully contained the blaze, and fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, the damage to the meetinghouse is significant.

Local church leaders expressed their devastation over the incident but assured that they are making alternative arrangements for worship services. A release from the church detailed the impact on the congregation.

Later that same day, another fire ignited at a meetinghouse in Mont-Dore, New Caledonia, during the evening hours. Like the earlier incident, there were no reported injuries, but the chapel suffered considerable damage. Fire officials are currently investigating both fires to determine their causes.

Local church leaders in New Caledonia are assisting authorities with their investigation while also comforting church members following the event. Elder Peter F. Meurs, the Pacific area president of the church, provided words of encouragement, stating, “Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joyfully worship in meetinghouses across the Pacific and the world, deepening faith in Jesus Christ, fellowshipping with others, and organizing service to communities in which they live.”

He emphasized the significance of these sacred spaces as crucial to the worship life of over 600,000 church members in the Pacific Area.

These incidents mark the third and fourth recent fires affecting Latter-day Saints meetinghouses. Just last week, on October 6, a different Latter-day Saints building was destroyed by fire, although the cause has not yet been identified. The week prior, on September 28, a tragic event occurred when a gunman attacked a meetinghouse, resulting in multiple fatalities before setting the building on fire.

Church officials in both New Zealand and New Caledonia are committed to ensuring that worship services continue for their members during this difficult time.