St Faith's Church in Rotorua is officially listed as Wahi Tupuna (+video)

Heritage New Zealand has officially listed Te Hahi o te Whakapono (St Faith's Anglican Church) in Ohinemutu as a Wahi Tupuna.

Under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, Wahi Tupuna identifies places that are important to Maori for their ancestral significance and their associated cultural and traditional values.

In the proposal, put forward by the church's vestry late last year, it said St Faith's Church encompassed "many layers of history for Ngati Whakaue and wider Te Arawa from the burial of Hinetekakara by Ihenga around the 14th century \. . . to the efforts of many of their descendants who created the church as it stands today".

The church has a "rich Maori interior" and the cemetery houses "many significant figures in the life of the church and wider region".

Ann Somerville who was involved in putting the proposal forward said the listing was "fantastic."

"It really is an important thing that it's been listed," she said.

Rotorua Lakes councillor, cultural ambassador and Ohinemutu resident Trevor Maxwell said he was thrilled with the news.

"I'm very pleased," he said.

St Faith's Anglican Church has been made a Wahi Tupuna.PHOTO/BEN FRASER

"St Faith's has played a big role in my life. I was christened there, went to Sunday school, did cultural performances and even got married in St Faith's Church."

Mr Maxwell said they see a lot of people visiting the church and the marae at Ohinemutu.

"It's an important place for our community," he said.

"I'm glad the decision makers have been able to see it that way."

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the decision was a special one.

"It's always been a very significant historic site for Rotorua," she said.

"There's been a lot of fundraising in the community to do up the church and this just shows its significance."

Heritage New Zealand's Maori heritage adviser registration Tamoe Ngata researched the original proposal entered last year.

"On the shores of Lake Rotorua, St Faith's Church and the wider Ohinemutu area surrounding it encompass many layers of history for Ngati Whakaue and wider Te Arawa," he said.

"The stories associated with this place date back to around the 14th century and embody the special cultural values associated with Ohinemutu and its people."

"As well as being a physical landmark, with its distinctive Tudor-stylised architecture, it is also a place of great ancestral significance, symbolising a living link with the tupuna who established, built and decorated this remarkable church - and the generations of clergymen, parishioners and artists who have continued to add to the spiritual life of the congregation and its expression in the various taonga of the church grounds."