Hurry up

It's stood the test of time - 150 years - but this church's restoration must wait. Kieran Nash reports.
The treatment of a church about to celebrate its 150th birthday has caused some people to lose their faith - their faith in Auckland City Council.
St Ninian's Church in Avondale is one of Auckland's oldest churches. It was closed in 2007 because of lead paint contamination.
The Avondale-Waterview Historical Society has been planning ways to mark the former Presbyterian church's birthday on April 8 but will have to hold the ceremony outside.
The society says - apart from a conservation plan and engineering report - there has been no word regarding the council's plans for St Ninian's.
Wayne Coe is a member of the society. "They've procrastinated for so long. Initially, it was closed because the lead paint was found. It was closed on the proviso they would look into it."
He believes a number of factors have held up restoration, "I think it's time and circumstance,", but he would love to see St Ninian's restored for community use.
"It's West Auckland's second oldest church. It's a beautiful building. To see it restored as a historic building would just be magnificent."
Mr Coe was out of New Zealand for many years and, on his return, found many old churches replaced by modern buildings. "We don't want to see another one go down the drain."
Avondale Community Board chairman Duncan MacDonald says the church has two problems now - lead paint and structural damage. It is also possible the building has been sinking on one corner.
However, Mr MacDonald is adamant the church will not be demolished. "It's not going to be bloody pulled down while I'm in Avondale. It's an icon. It's one of the last heritage things left in Avondale. Too much of Avondale over the last 50 years has been demolished. I just hate the idea of taking it away."
Lisa Truttman, a local historian and historical society member, hopes a sign marking the  church's birthday will go up on the church's fence later this year.
Auckland City Council community services manager, Nandita Mathur, says there are plans for partial restoration to make it useable, primarily by adult groups. It could be open before the end of the year.
This includes removing lead paint and work  on the roof trusses. While this is done, the council will look for a suitable tenant.
"The longer-term intention is to seek a budget that will enable a full restoration to be carried out in keeping with the heritage status of this building," says Ms Mathur.
A report was commissioned in 2007 to identify all structural and contamination issues as part of a full conservation plan.
Services rendered  
Originally known as Whau Presbyterian Church, St Ninian's was built between November 1859 and March 1860. It opened on April 8, 1860. As well as a church, it was the site of the first organised school in the western districts, from 1860 to 1868.
In the 1930s,  Avondale Presbyterian Church became St Ninian's. The parish celebrated its centenary in 1960.  With the creation of the local Presbyterian-Methodist Union Parish, the church at St Georges Rd ceased services in 1984. Auckland City Council bought the building and the remaining surrounding land, including the cemetery, in the late 1980s and the property was converted to community use, which included early-childhood groups. The building was closed to the public in 2007.
St Ninian was the first apostle of Scotland.