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St Mary’s Catholic Church’, Hokitika., constructed between 1914-28.
of that info: https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/1705
By Janna Sherman
A majority of St Mary’s Catholic Church parishioners have swung in favour of building a new church.
The parish was last year forced to decide the future of the Hokitika icon by the Christchurch Catholic diocese, which locked parishioners out of the church without warning in 2012 amid structural concerns following the Canterbury earthquakes. It has remained closed ever since.
Parish council chairwoman Sandra Pfahlert said 125 parishioners had recently completed a survey to round off a series of meetings on the options facing the future of the parish and church.
“Parishioners were asked to indicate their support to either strengthen our existing church or to build a new church, bearing in mind the financial implications of each choice and the long-term building health and durability of each,” Mrs Pfahlert said.
Out of the responses, 63 were in support of building a new church.
The option of strengthening the existing church, at a cost of about $2 million, drew 42 responses. A new church is estimated to cost half that amount.
The diocese has previously said it has not set aside funding for any work and a “firm indication of financial support and the level of that support” was not expected to be known until the end of October.
The remaining 20 survey results were split between the option of “other”, and continuing to use the Seaview chapel.
However, Mrs Pfahlert said a shared church was not a permanent option.
“While we are very grateful that we can hold our services in the chapel in the short term, it is not a long-term solution for us as it does not fulfil all our school and parish requirements.
“We are very appreciative of offers of long-term church-sharing from other faith groups, but will continue using Seaview chapel in the interim as our weekend Mass schedule, which covers Ross and Kokatahi as well as two services here, is fairly tight.”
The parish has six months to give its final recommendation to the diocese and Mrs Pfahlert said all options and the pastoral, social and financial implications of each would continue to be investigated.
“As our parish decision-making body we realise we will be stuck between a rock and a hard place, no matter what our final decision is. We continue to be guided by our faith and our responsibility to provide for the future of our parish,” Mrs Pfahlert said.
“December 2015 marks 150 years of a Catholic parish in Hokitika and we aim to celebrate that centenary in a more settled way.”
The current St Mary’s Church opened 100 years ago this year.Date of Photoca.1914-1928.Map[1] External LinkSt Mary’s Catholic Church’, Hokitika.
Lyn Wallace
It needs to stay where it is as the beautiful historic building that it is. Shut the doors, put a fence around it and leave it be.
Patricia Herd Kirby
What a shame, I married David there 46 years ago last month. Also, Kay went to the convent over the road in the late 60s early 70s. It is a lovely building and each time we have been home we have visited it.
Dayna Tooke ッ
its been a draw card for visitors to the region also, many photos taken in its time thats for sure.
Shelley Symons
It would be such a shame to take it down, I still remember it when it wasn't painted, used to sit beside Nana and just look at the carvings instead of listening to Father Bill,
Zody Ensor
Yep should be left like an ancient ruin of Rome, fence it off
Lyn Wallace
Yes save the church
Megan Louise Rossiter
It would be terrible to see this beautiful building pulled down! Its a part of Hokitika
Jenny Leach
save this building
Carrolyn Baker
once its gone you can never get it back the new church wont be the same
Kelly Roberts
What a shame, love this church, would love to see it back up and running soon!
Gary Bennett
Dont pull it down
Katarina Leaf-Dobbs
Just like politics its all about the almighty dollar!
Wanda Doolan
No no no please save the beautiful church and historic building .....
Carol Linklater
I cannot believe that we in New Zealand seem to want to destroy our heritage . Does it matter how long it takes to repair or raise the money? Where is the urgency ? We must protect our history and heritage, whether it be public or private and I'm not just talking about the Catholic Church in Hokitika.
Alec Birch
Taking the church out of the Hokitika skyline would be like bowling the clock tower, or like losing the road rail bridge and the railway overbridge was. At present, post ChCh, everyone is running scared, and conservatism running rampant. Pity the owners can't be persuaded to breathe thru their noses for a few years, and let the engineering profession get to grips with the new environment. Methodologies will improve, materials will evolve and costs will come down. Not everything can be saved, but that is worthy of saving.
Brenda Barry Brown
Carol the urgency is to pull it all down.
Margaret Elaine Sadler
Any update on this lovely Catholic church in Hokitika?
Lyn Wallace
Surely all will see sense and keep this beautiful church where it now stands. Put a fence around it, and leave it stand as the landmark it is. And build a church somewhere else in Hokitika. I would hate to see this church go as would I am sure many others.
Lexy Cowlin
While I understand the financial problems in restoration being of concern, surely as one of the major landmarks of Hokitika, this church should be restored. As a heritage building, shouldnt the Council be approached to help out? Seems such a shame to pull this down as has been an integral part of Hoki's culture for a very long time. Midnight Mass will never be the same!
Zody Ensor
Abandon you love for this building and its place in our utmost personal local history for it too will succumb to the disgusting method of safe proofing historic buildings. It is now a fact of life and I have learnt that appreciation should be reserved towards our days left with our loved ones. It is but stone in time
Carole Williams
How sad they are going to pull such a beautiful building down!!
Raewyn Louttit
So many times in that church ...
Peter Westwood
with the wealth of the Catholic Church surly money can be raised to strengthen this landmark.If you have never been to Vatican City you must make the effort and see for yourself, wall to wall gold,what is the point of collecting wealth and making the real people be denied what is important to them
Les Holmes Germanicus
This can be saved too, It just takes strong will to do it.
Peter Westwood
at the present ratte of demolitons the South Island will have Canterbury and Westland Plains
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