HISTORIC CHURCH SOON OPEN TO PUBLIC

John from Hutt Central

THE CHRIST CHURCH VISITOR CENTRE


We do want to take the opportunity to update you on progress towards our objective of a Visitor Centre for the Christ Church Taita.

NZ history is to be taught in all NZ schools and kura, and this Visitor Centre will be a place where some of that history can be displayed.

The first settlers to come to NZ in an organised group, arrived in five ships on January 20th 1840. The first building of any substance they erected was this Church, built 12 years later. It is the oldest building in the Wellington region.

At present the church has to be heavily protected from vandals since it was nearly destroyed by a deliberately lit fire in the late 1980s. Regular tours are not possible.

The new building will provide for a place for visitors to gather and to learn more about the church, and the local history it represents, and also to accommodate volunteer guides who can then provide tours of the church and graveyard. It will also provide space for small functions like weddings, and hospitality for visitors. School student visits will be free of charge .

There are some wonderful stories associated with this tiny church, one of the oldest in New Zealand. Te Rauparaha features in some, as does Honiana Te Puni, and Te Whiti O Rongomai, the Hero of Parihaka.

The settlers were a tough breed, and had to be to survive, but they were offered food, shelter and hospitality by the Tangata Whenua, including the whanau of Chief Manihera Matangi, whose grandfather signed te Tiriti O Waitangi, a staunch Christian and true friend of the early settlers who, with a number of his descendants, is buried in the churchyard.

About us

The Christ Church Taita has set up a trust, The Christ Church Taita Cottage Museum Trust, to provide a Visitor Centre for this heritage taonga, built in 1854 by the first organised group of European settlers to come to NZ, who landed on Petone Beach in January 1840

Use of funds

The estimated cost to establish the Visitor Centre is $320,000.

Half of this sum has already been raised , consultation has taken place with affected parties, the design approved by the Diocese and Heritage New Zealand, , and a Resource Consent issued by the local Council.

The next stage is the commencement of the building, and we will be advertising for trades people shortly.

A feature of this undertaking is the strong involvement of volunteers. The Architect John Rowe, the Planning Consultant Sylvia Allan and the Quantity Surveyor Ciaran Clinton, have all given their valuable time free.

OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING THIS YEAR. YOUR HELP IN THE FORM OF A FINAL CONTRIBUTION TO THIS WORK, WILL MATERIALLY ASSIST OUR PROJECT. YOU CAN DONATE THROUGH GIVEALITTLE OR DIRECTLY TO OUR BNZ BANK ACCOUNT 02-0548-0097223-025 (PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME SO WE CAN FURNISH YOU WITH A RECEIPT),

FOR MORE INFO PLEASE GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE "THE CHRIST CHURCH TAITA VISITOR CENTRE TRUST"

(CHAIRMAN JOHN DAYSH SECTY JOHN TERRIS)