Chairman of the St Mary’s Church and Cemetery Trust, Matanuku Mahuika, said a full centenary event was still being discussed and the intention was to hold it later in the year. Photo / Gisborne Herald
Chairman of the St Mary’s Church and Cemetery Trust, Matanuku Mahuika, said a full centenary event was still being discussed and the intention was to hold it later in the year. Photo / Gisborne Herald
The historic St Mary’s Church in Tikitiki commemorates 100 years this year, but the weather has put plans for a full-scale centenary on hold for now.
St Mary’s serves as a place of worship, a memorial to the Māori soldiers of the East Coast who fell during World War Iand a cultural repository of traditional Māori arts and crafts.
It was consecrated on February 16, 1926, and up to 5000 people attended the ceremony, including chiefs from across the North Island, Sir Apirana Ngata, Prime Minister Gordon Coates, Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson, Cabinet minister Sir Māui Pōmare, Lady Mīria Pōmare and Māori health advocate and former Cabinet minister Peter Buck.
According to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, the building is a Category 1 historic place, a place of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance.
“It is of great spiritual and historical significance to the people of Ngāti Porou,” Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga says on its website.
“The church also commemorates the establishment of Christianity in Waiapu and the East Coast.
“St Mary’s is one of the great decorated buildings of Ngāti Porou, whose building was inspired and directed by Apirana T. Ngata, as part of his endeavours to restore knowledge of traditional arts and crafts and traditional values to his people.”
Heritage New Zealand describes the interior of the church as “one of the most elaborate and ornate Māori carved buildings in New Zealand”.
“The decorative kowhaiwhai and tukutuku artwork is executed in traditional materials to traditional design, and the designs are carried over to the new medium of glass in the windows. The quality and innovative use of stained glass is one of the glories of the church.”
The chairman of the St Mary’s Church and Cemetery Trust, Matanuku Mahuika, said the recent storms forced them to postpone the initial plans for a large-scale celebration event.
A date for that big event had yet to be decided as of yesterday.
“We didn’t want to impose on people while it was difficult to travel within the region,” he said. “Especially for people in neighbouring Te Araroa and Hick’s Bay.
“We didn’t want to have a situation where people were being excluded due to road closures.
“Also, with our whānau to the north still suffering as a result of the floods, we didn’t feel like it was appropriate for us to be having a celebration at the same time.”
The stained glass window of St Mary's church in Tikitiki depicts Second Lieutenant Henare Kohere and Captain Pekama Kaa kneeling at the feet of Jesus on the Cross. Photo / Gisborne Herald
They instead marked the actual church opening day with a service and hākari (feast).
Mahuika said for the main centenary event, they still planned to host a range of dignitaries.
“We will also involve a number of iwi that contributed to the building of the church.”
These include Waikato iwi, who gifted the carved altar rails, and Te Arawa, who gifted the carved pulpit.
“A full centenary event is still a matter of discussion and the intention is it will happen sometime this year.”
According to Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, the Māori Anglican Church, the daughter of Second Lieutenant Henare Kohere, who is depicted along with Captain Pekama Kaa kneeling at the feet of Jesus on the Cross on the church’s stained glass window, was the first to be married in the church.
Te Huinga married local All Black legend George Nepia on May 6, 1926.
