Historic Hāwea church to be sold

While many churches across New Zealand might be closing due to declining attendance, the historic church of St Ninan’s at Hāwea Flat has no problem attracting new members - but that’s the problem.

For the first time since its construction in 1937, St Ninian's Church at Hawea Flat is on the market. St Ninian’s church minster Reverend Aaron Johnstone said bigger premises were needed to house a growing community.

“Over recent years we the Hawea church have been pleased to see the growth of our church community. Around five years ago, our church faced the realisation that while we deeply appreciate our beautiful church building, our wonderful neighbours and a great location, we would shortly outgrow our space. 

“Committed to serving Hawea, we explored options and began consultation with our community on plans to buy land, the first stage of our new church.

“After much reflection and discussion we discerned that our exciting future plans required a new purpose-built church facility, one that will support church growth and provide space for the wider Hawea community. The realities of rising building costs mean we need to sell our existing church to realise this.”

However, some in the local community are worried about the sale and have started a Facebook community group to examine how the building might stay under community control.

“The Hāwea community expressed sadness at the idea of losing the St Ninnian’s Church to a private sale,” Keep St Ninian’s community group spokesperson Anna van Riel said.

“Local’s came out of the woodwork sharing that they had been married, christened children in the church and had family who had contributed to the building and maintaining of the church over the years.

“There was collective hope that a solution could be found to keep hold of St Ninnian’s for community use, in order to maintain it as place where people could still have access for events, workshops and gathering, and to protect the local heritage and stories surrounding what many described as an old friend.

“However, a recent structural report has shown that a considerable amount of earthquake repairs would need to take place to bring the church up to code, which has definitely thrown a damp cloth on the idea of the community acquiring the building.

“With support from Fyfe Karamaena Law, the ‘Keep St. Ninnian’s Community Group’ are still in conversation and hope to make a decision on how to move forward before the deadline sale on February 5.”

Rev. Johnstone sympathises with all who do not wish to see the church sold. 

“It was not an easy decision for our church to make. Many of us live in Hawea and are part of the generations that have worshiped at this special place and made some amazing memories,” Rev. Johnstone said.

“We can assure you that it saddens us that our church is no longer fit for purpose and that we need to sell it to fund our new build.

“We are grateful our church has been an important part of the Hawea community for so long and will do all we can to continue this legacy from our new purpose-built facility. We look forward to a bright future with the deepest respect for our past and our community.”

However, there Church has complicated ownership rules, meaning a discounted sale for a local buyer would not be possible.

“St Ninian’s is within the bounds of the Synod of Otago and Southland,” Rev. Johnstone said.

“In the Presbyterian tradition, congregations within the Synod of Otago and Southland don’t own land or buildings, rather they are collectively owned with ownership vested in the Otago Foundation Trust Board. 

“Those who have donated time, effort and resources over the years to develop and maintain Synod buildings, have contributed to the collective. This collective responsibility for stewardship of our resources is a hallmark of the Presbyterian tradition. 

“The Synod has a legal requirement to safeguard the future resources of the Church - property must be sold at minimum of 90 percent of market value.”

The Synod of Otago and Southland also falls outside a 2023 decision by the presbyterian Church that (barring exceptions) Church property being sold on the open market just first be offered to “relevant Māori authorities”.

Those guidelines do not apply to any property within the bounds of the Synod of Otago and Southland, nor held by the Otago Foundation Trust Board.

St Ninian’s was built by the Hāwea community under the guidance of architect Dr. A.H. Elmslie.

The building has QLDC Category 3 Historic Heritage status, meaning internal alterations are permitted while preserving its exterior.

The property is to be sold by Deadline Sale closing 12pm Wednesday, February 5, by real estate company Century 21.

Main image (Century21 Wanaka): The 1937-build St Ninan's church at Hawea Flat is for sale.