Kerikeri church opens

A Kaeo-Kerikeri parish has opened its new home to the community in Kerikeri.

The new building called Cornerstone or Whare Karakia o Manako opened its doors on December 17 with a 5am blessing followed by a ‘grand opening’ event later in the day.

Cornerstone, situated on the corner of Kerikeri Rd and the Heritage Bypass was built by the Kaeo-Kerikeri Union Parish.

Minister Reverend Dr Robyn McPhail says the dawn blessing and the following ‘grand opening’ events were just as significant as each other.

‘‘We asked tangata whenua and they responded to the request for the blessing and led it in tikanga maori.’’

As local kaumatua Nau Epiha asked the question: ‘‘Ko wai te ingoa o te Atua?’’ or ‘what is the name of this building?’ McPhail responded : ‘‘Whare Karakia o Manako.’’

With that, the covers were removed from the signage and the lights were flicked on.

McPhail says there was an audible gasp at that moment.

‘‘We had old prayers from kaumatua and then church prayers, it’s a lovely thing to do. We stand together.’’

It has been six and a half years since the church last had its own base. Construction on their new building began in January and after supply delays it opened three months later than planned.

Four trees were also planted to mark the four branches of the church - Maori, Pakeha, Methodist and Presbyterian.

The union church marks the union between the methodist and presbyterian church since 1974.

The building is available to any who wishes to book it on the condition that no disrespect is shown to the beliefs of the building.

McPhail says the opening of the church felt like a real community event.

‘‘It felt so much more than a church. People who don’t normally go to church seemed to feel comfortable, everyone was at home. Church people were happy too, that was my goal.

‘‘That’s our mission - to be a space for the community to come together.’’

She says she felt a sense of relief to get to the point of opening Cornerstone’s doors.

‘‘But now we can started.’’

The facility offers a hall, meeting room and commercial grade kitchen. get

Lifelong parish member (and number one caterer) Sheryl Webster carries the cross from the former building.