Whanganui Pacific Island church celebrates opening of renovated facility

Mayor Hamish McDouall with Whanganui Cook Island Christian Church Pastor Ngataua Puapii as the ribbon is cut. Photo / Bevan Conley

A joint Pacific Islands church in Gonville celebrated its newly renovated facility as part of the Cook Islands' Language Week celebrations.

The building, on the corner of Puriri and Harper Sts, is shared by the Whanganui Cook Island Christian Church and the River City Fijian Assembly of God Church.

Renovations on the church began last October after the Whanganui Cook Island Trust received $285,000 for the Pasifika Churches Renovation project as part of the Government's Covid-19 response.

It is one of 27 Pasifika churches around the country to receive a share of nearly $10 million.

Mayor Hamish McDouall cut the ribbon for the event, with more than 50 members of both churches, community members, church ministers and Government representatives on-site for the celebrations.

McDouall said it was a great day for the church and the community.

"This is an incredible congregation. There is nothing quite like hearing your singing. I want to go book a trip to Rarotonga right now."

Pastor of the Whanganui Cook Island Christian Church, Ngataua Puapii, and Pastor Jiosefa Waqa of the River City Fijian Assembly of God Church, acknowledged and presented gifts to all those who helped through the rebuild and have supported their community.

Puapii said the day was about celebration and recognition.

"It was just our way of showing gratitude and our love to all the wonderful people who have helped make this happen, not just from the church, but for the whole community.

"To me, thanks go to God. Without his love upon us, we wouldn't have made it this far."

The opening of the facility was one of the flagship events of this week's Cook Island's Language Week celebrations.

Cook Island Community Group chairman Nga Apai said the facility will become a true community hub, acting as a Civil Defence base as well as helping with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

"The Whanganui DHB will be here in two weeks for the vaccine rollout to our communities. The facilities will be well used."

Work carried out at the church included upgraded security through fencing and surveillance, heat pumps and insulation, and toilet and shower installation as well as general maintenance throughout.

Apai said without the funding from the Provincial Growth Fund the project wouldn't have even started.

"It would have been another 10 years before we had this. It has all been pushed forward. It is just a blessing."