Kerikeri congregation moves into new home

Rev Amiria Te Whiu, Presbyterian minister for Te Tai Tokerau, blessing one of the newly-planted trees. Photo / Alan Watkins

After six years of wandering in the wilderness, a Kerikeri parish has moved into a new home.

The new church, built at the corner of Kerikeri Rd and the Heritage Bypass, was officially opened with a dawn blessing, a celebratory service, shared lunch and hip-hop dancing, those who gathered including a who's who of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, plus Northland MP Winston Peters and deputy mayor Tania McInnes.

The old church was a hub of community activity, ranging from public meetings to car boot sales, a role that is now set to resume.

Minister Robyn McPhail said Cornerstone, or Whare Karakia o Manako, had been designed not to look like a traditional church.

The previous building was more of a "people space" than a traditional church, and Cornerstone would take that a step further.

"Our policy is that any event can happen in here, faith or no faith, as long as it doesn't disrespect our beliefs," she said.

The church, hall and fully-equipped kitchen were available for funerals, weddings, hui, meetings and other events. Yoga and tai chi groups had already booked, Rev McPhail saying it would fill a niche that was missing in Kerikeri.

The project took longer than expected due to bureaucratic hold-ups and the need to go back to the drawing board when the original design came in over budget.

"We cut our cloth accordingly, but we're very proud of it. It's hard not to get excited when friends who aren't even church-goers are excited," she added.

The sale of the Butler Rd land had to not only cover the cost of the new church but also set up a "financial foundation" to continue the church's mission.

Waimate North weaver Toi Te Rito Maihi designed the main etched glass window, while sculptor Chris Booth and ceramic artist Richard Parker were hatching plans for a peace garden, but the next phase would be to build a funeral parlour next door.

It would be built by Arco, the same firm that built the church, and leased to a local company.

The old church was built in 1979 and demolished in 2010. Since then about 40 parishioners had met weekly in the Ted Robinson Chapel at Kerikeri Retirement Village.

The church's fortnightly car boot sales will resume at the new location from January 14.

The parish was formed in 1974 by a merger of the Whangaroa Methodist and Kerikeri Presbyterian churches.