100-year-old church seeks DIY owner
Birthday sacrifice to aid ailing girl
AWaikato couple who saved a 103-year-old church from being bowled are willing to sell it to the right buyer for a discounted rate. The gothic-style church on the Hauraki Plains, about 10km from Thames and Paeroa, is going under the hammer, but those with plans to restore it will get a better price.
The 100sq m church on SH26 is on the market after sitting empty for almost three decades. It was officially deconsecrated in 2012.
Waikato dairy farmers Max and Beverly Deane purchased the church in 2001 for $36,000 — the day before it was due to be demolished.
The neighbouring Puriri School had even planned a protest on the day it was to be knocked over.
Max Deane said the plan had been for a consortium to be set up so the local community could contribute a few thousand dollars to help buy it, but no one else stepped forward.
The couple spent a further $8000 on a new roof and $8000 on surveying, as well as rates, now $1648 a year.
The heritage-protected building’s rateable value is $171,000 but Deane expected the sale price to be under that. “We bought it to keep it and we didn’t want it ever demolished.
“When it sells we are going to sell it with preference price-wise to someone who wants to do something with it. It’s totally original . . . The only thing missing . . . is the gas lamp at the front. The century-old Puriri Church is on the edge of the Hauraki Plains.
“If we can get someone to take it on and do the project up that’s what we would really like to see happen.”
He said possible options were a gallery, a cafe or a home.
The building needs some repairs to bring it up to the current earthquake standard and has cracks in the wall, but Bayleys marketing agent Lee Carter said the exact amount of work needed was still being determined.
He said it would answer the prayers of DIY-ers looking to create a heritage home on a big, flat section. Alternatively another building could be constructed beside the church.
Carter said the church had “what looks like native rimu and matai floor boards, through to high, vaulted ceilings and leadlight windows”.
The Puriri Church was Methodist to start with but later was shared with Presbyterians and Anglicans.
It will be sold at auction on September 29 at Bayleys’ Hamilton office. A Rotorua girl is giving up a 6th birthday party so her friends can instead put their money towards 9-year-old Valencia Davies’ fight against a rare skin condition.
Madisyn Majurey will turn 6 on Thursday and her mum expected to have a celebration on Saturday with her daughter’s friends.
But upon hearing Valencia’s story, Madisyn instead suggested her guests go to a family fun day being held on Saturday to raise money for Valencia and her family.
The Rotorua Daily Post reported on Saturday that the Owhata Primary School pupil has been in hospital since the start of the month after contracting the life-threatening Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Valencia is on the road to recovery after a risky time when she found it difficult to breathe as sores and lesions took hold of more than 60 per cent of her body. But doctors say she could have life-long scarring. Valencia’s family are also struggling financially since her father was made redundant with the closure of Lumbercube and her mother has had to take time off work. Madisyn’s mother, Erin Majurey, said she tried to teach her children the importance of thinking of others
Hnzherald.co.nz For video of Madisyn, go to nzherald.co.nz in times of need.
“[Madisyn’s suggestion] honestly brought tears to my eyes. My kids are so caring and compassionate anyway and that’s something I’ve tried to instil so it wasn’t really a surprise that she wanted to give up something that most 6-year-olds really hold on to.”
Valencia’s mother, Ene Mikaere, said she cried when she saw a video on Facebook which showed Madisyn talking about her birthday sacrifice.
“To think that someone so young can come up with such an amazing gesture. I was blown away with this precious gem’s video.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the beautiful darling and her mummy at the fundraiser.”
To donate to Valencia go to givealittle.co.nz/donate/Cause/ valenciasroad2recovery