Donations from CICC Ekalesia members, Cook Islanders and families in Australia and New Zealand have raised $520,900 towards the re-build of the Avarua CICC Ziona Tapu which is on track for its opening on July 7.

Secretary of the Avarua Ekalesia and project manager for the church rebuild, Makirere Poila said: “We really appreciate the kindness and support we received during our ‘tere’ overseas.”

“Through our CICC Ekalesia who accepted us to go there, we went all over Australia and New Zealand.

“We thank our people overseas for their support and donations, from all our islands, like in Cairns the Pukapuka community hosted us as well as other island groups elsewhere and the CICC Ekalesia.”

The Avarua Ekalesia fundraising tere departed Rarotonga on March 15, flying direct to Cairns from Auckland airport travelling throughout Australia. They finished their Australian fundraising tere in Melbourne returning to Christchurch, New Zealand. The tere arrived back to Rarotonga on May 1.

So far approximately $800,000 has been spent on the re-design of the church.

Four impressive chandeliers have arrived from Australia and were being installed yesterday by Civil Contractors Limited who are contracted to carry out the work on Ziona Tapu.

The new solid concrete top floor has been painted and tiled, and waiting on the new pews (long bench seat or enclosed box) to arrive from New Zealand where the new altar is also being made.

Next week the new giant windows will be fixed in, the previous coloured glass at the top of the giant windows have been kept.

The walls and ceiling painting inside has been completed as well as the floor tiles on the main floor which were laid by Teariki Pirangi.

“This is where the donations have been spent – on the church, and we want our donors to know that we are very grateful,” said Poila.

Following the church’s opening day, on Saturday, July 8 will be the registration day for the CICC 34^th General Assembly which will start on Sunday, July 9 and run through to July 16.

The new church design is to also commemorate the Rarotonga CICC Arrival of the Gospel 200-year Celebrations which will be observed on July 25, 2023.

The Avarua Ekalesia consists of six villages: Tupapa, Maraerenga, Takuvaine, Tutakimoa, Ruatonga and Avatiu.