Tinui Anzac Church Restoration - saving the place of the 1st Anzac service in 1916

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Tinui has been an important presence and has played an integral role in the Tinui village and district since 1901. It has special historical significance given that the first ever ANZAC Service was held there on April 25,1916. Although, the congregation is currently small, the community feels very strongly about this church and its important role in Tinui’s history.

The church is currently on a flood plain and the building has been flooded several times, despite being raised one metre off the ground (which required the flying buttresses to be added). It is in need of repiling, rewiring, an accessible entrance, extensive drainage, and some major restoration work. When faced with this, the majority of the community feels that this would be an ideal time to move the Church off the flood plain and on to higher ground in the Tinui village at the same time as doing the restoration. There is a vacant section available for purchase next to the Community Hall and parking area. There are already two historically significant buildings in the same area, and there is still a view of the Anzac Cross on the Taipos from this section. By having the church in close proximity to the Hall, it would be much easier to have weddings, funerals, and functions which utilise both buildings. Although this is our preferred option, we are also considering lifting the Church still higher on its current site.

The community foresees another 100 years of continued use of the Church of the Good Shepherd as a house of worship, a site for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and a spiritual gathering place during times of crises. It is also an important part of the Anzac site and newly constructed walkway to the Anzac cross on the Tinui Taipos.

If you would like to be involved with this project or would like to learn more please contact Emily Crofoot (Project Manager), email emily@castlepoint.co.nz or 06 372-6465