THE CHRIST CHURCH VISITOR CENTRE

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.