The Arorangi CICC church renovations team are steaming ahead in their preparations for the 200-year Arrival of the Gospel commemoration in Arorangi, which will be completed in time for the rededication of the church on Thursday June 22.

Secretary of the Arorangi CICC Okirua Teokoitu said the church has moved on from Tinomana Tokerau Ariki’s committee and no longer have a partnership with Tinomana Ariki’s committee.

“The church chamber of deacons shall now manage the church’s own 200-year Bicentennial Arrival of the Gospel to Arorangi celebrations along with strong appointed educated  skilled leaders of the church,” he said.

“We are on the home run now working inside the church on the final finishing details, then we will move outside to do necessary landscaping and beautification amongst the old graves then we are done.

“We would like to give our appreciation to MP Teariki Heather (Member of Parliament for Murienua) and T&M Heather Limited for coming to the aid of the church to enable us to finish the job in record time.

“Thank you also to the army of business service providers that Teariki Heather invited to come on board to support and to assist in the areas we need help with to make this job easier.”

Workmen including members of the Puaikura community are on site six days a week Monday to Saturday along with the dedicated women crew who prepare the hearty lunch meals.

Teokoitu said this is the first major renovation of its kind for the church, “which was guided by the need to do something and action it despite having insufficient church funds.”

Almost everything inside the church is new. The working group have preserved and saved the historical heritage contour of the building such as the original limestone walls and the roof top which was built after 1987 Cyclone Sally.

The original timber pulpit has been re-varnished, glaze strengthened and decorated, and glazed floor tiles surround the pulpit walls to distinguish the pulpit area inside the church. 

Upstairs the floor which was rebuilt in the 1990s has been replaced with new timber and a modern finish.

The new windows and doors have replaced the previous ones that were showing signs of wear and tear over the years.

Paint work has refreshed the inside and outside of the church as well as the church yard and new modern floor tiles have replaced the old ones from the 90’s.

New lights and fans also bring fresh blessings into our improvements for the church, said Teokoitu.

The pews have been repaired and restored to its original wood carried out by MP Teariki Heather and his employees.

Teokoitu said they are grateful for the support from people in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and in the Cook Islands.

“We are thankful for their kind words and messages of encouragement and appreciation.

“Also to our media girls Tangi Nooroa Samuel and Sylvana Taoro-Puia for their daily updates on social media for everyone to see the progress on the church.

“And to our wonderful women who cook meals and provide healthy drinks made from fresh lemon, ginger and tea varani for the workmen every day,” said Teokoitu.

Yesterday evening a public meeting for the district of Vaka Puaikura was called by the three Member of Parliament representatives to discuss a cleaning programme for the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations and other matters.