Renovation work on the Avarua Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) Ziona Tapu at Taputapuatea is moving along smoothly and now features a solid new concrete upstairs floor balcony which can seat up to 100 persons.

Work began on the church in June last year, the altar floor area has been raised and extensively widened and work on the plastering of the concrete balcony is underway.

The church which was first built in 1853 by the Reverend Buzacott measures 64 feet in length, 40 feet in width and 30 feet in height.

Makirere Poila, the Ziona Tapu project manager, said machinery will be needed to reach and clean the ceiling, and the old lights and fans will be removed and replaced.

The original limestone base of the pulpit which is in good nick will be kept in the remodelling of the area, said Poila.

The new concrete balcony inside the Avarua CICC. 23011232/ MELINA ETCHES

While most of the renovations are focused inside the church, the outside (the entrance to the church) has been widened to allow more room for particular church events.

Civil Contractors Limited has been contracted for the renovation project which is expected to be completed at the end of April in time for the CICC Bi-Centennial Celebrations to be held in July.

In July 2023, the CICC 34^th Bi-Centennial General Assembly is scheduled to be held on Rarotonga and on July 25, and the 200^th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity on Rarotonga and the Arorangi CICC church will be commemorated.

Every Saturdays the Avarua Ekalesia conduct working bees, cleaning up outside and prepping the walls of the church for repainting.

Poila would also like to ask families who have members of their family buried within the churchyard to help out and tidy up the graves of their loved ones.