Toko Toru Tapu Church Restoration Project

The Toko Toru Tapu Church is arguably the most important Maori church in New Zealand and probably the most historically significant church in the East Coast Region.

A restoration trust has been formed to help restore the church back to near its original look and feel.

HISTORY

The church is associated with the earliest church mission station in Poverty Bay set up by Rev W Williams in 1839 at Kaupapa, near Manutuke.

It was on this site that the first chapel was built in January 1840. Constructed out of raupo and timber slabs, it survived a little less than two years before being destroyed by a gale in November 1842. For the next 20 years, while debate over the building of the second church delayed construction, services were held in Hamokorau, a large wharenui, at Orakaiapu Pa.

The second Toko Toru Tapu (1849-1863) was constructed on the site of the mission station and was very large for the time, at around 45 feet x 90 feet. This church was highly decorated with Maori art, some of which is currently on display at the Tairawhiti Musuem .

This church was also pivotal in the development of tohunga whakairo (artwork / carving) due to the discussions/arguments between the reknown carver Rukupo and Rev Williams.

The third church (1888-1910) was built on the site of the current church with many of the carvings from the second church being incorporated.

The current church was built in 1913 after the former church burnt down in 1910.

The church was in need of much repair having had little done to it in the past 40 -50 years.

The trustees of the Toko Toru Tapu Manutuke Church Restoration Trust have been charged with the restoration of the church.

To date this has taken considerable effort by the Trustees and the community as a whole.

The restoration of the church to date has involved:

• New Roof and spouting.

• Replacing the bell tower

• Replacing the window frames and repairing the glass leadlight.

• General exterior repairs prior to painting

• Painting of the exterior

• Installation of a smoke detection system

• Installation of a sprinkler system

• External Stairs and ramps to meet disabled access requirements

• New electrical wiring and lighting

• Heating

• Structural Strengthening

• Painting of the interior

• Restoration and cleaning of whakairo

• Toilet facilities

• Repairing / replacing the windows

The re-consecration of the Church was held November 29th 2015 and there was wonderful support from both the local and wider community. This magnificent house of worship is once again a place for prayer, celebration and sharing. We are achieving a beautiful legacy to leave our mokopuna as did our generations before us and we look forward to seeing it filled by our rangatahi, kaumatua and whanau bursting with the warmth of the past, and used by our community.

The next part of our project involves connecting a water supply to the sprinkler system to protect our parishioners and precious toanga, development of the grounds and historical interpretive signage.

Gisborne District Council requires the sprinkler system already piped out in the church to be operational by 2018. A water pipe is to run 150 metres from Whakato Road to a new 54,000 litre water tank. A new building to house a diesel pump will also be required to ensure enough water pressure to operate the sprinklers.

We are grateful for the donations from the community to date, the Lottery Grants Board, the different Trusts and grants received. Nga mihi nui kia koutou. Through your generous koha we are able to progress in completing our goal. Arohanui.

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION

TOKO TAPU TORU

MANUTUKE RESTORATION TRUST

We thank you in advance for your support.