Jehovah’s Witnesses have packed out Auckland hotels to near capacity for a major international conference, providing a major boost for the city’s economy. The Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses will be held at Eden Park from January 9-11, with about 20,000 people in attendance, including 3500 delegates from 20 countries.

The investment is set to fund the work of its owner, the United States-based church known commonly as the Mormon Church. Utah-based agricultural investor Farmland Reserve acquired the Three Roads property near Edgecumbe, with local firm Craigmore Sustainables set to manage it.

A fire that completely destroyed a chapel in Hawke’s Bay left a portrait of Jesus untouched. Firefighters were called to the blaze in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel in Te Hauke, about 21km southwest of the city of Hastings, at 6.35am on Sunday.