Hastings church to get new hall as part of more than $500,000 Govt spend on Samoan churches

Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio said Pasifika churches were key to helping provide support, confidence, strength and resilience. Photo / NZME

* Two previous versions of this online article incorrectly stated that funding had been allocated to the Hastings Samoan Assembly of God. The church did not apply for Provincial Growth Fund money, and did not receive it. Hawke's Bay Today apologises to the Hastings Samoan Assembly of God for the errors.

Two Pasifika churches in Hawke's Bay have been allocated $500,000 of Government funding for improvements, including a new community hall for one.

The churches are among 27 around the country to have been granted money out of the Provincial Growth Fund as part of the Government's Covid response and recovery plan.

The Napier & Hastings Samoan Assembly of God Community, which operates Kings House Church in Maraenui, will receive $402,373.

The Hastings Samoan Parish of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, on the corner of Heretaunga and Hastings Sts, will get $124,000.

Hastings Samoan Parish district superintendent Reverend Iakopo Fa'afuata said most of the money will go towards replacing their "very run-down" hall.

"The old hall has got asbestos, and it's over $100,000 to demolish with special people removing the asbestos.

"We have quite a number of groups that have used the hall in past years at a very low cost."

Fa'afuata said the project will create 44 jobs, crucial labour work in a community that has seen many people lose their jobs through Covid.

"There are quite a number of families that are finding it hard to make ends meet," he said.

The funding will also go towards repainting the church ceiling.

As part of the announcement for the nationwide funding, Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio said Pasifika churches were key to helping provide support, confidence, strength and resilience for Pacific communities in need through Covid-19.

"Pacific peoples in the regions value their churches and the significant role they play in their local communities," he said.