Rangiātea Church


Rangiātea Church in Ōtaki, New Zealand was the oldest Māori Anglican church in New Zealand. Originally completed in 1851, the building was burnt down by an arsonist in 1995, and by 2003 the church had been completely rebuilt.
In 1848, Te Rauparaha who had just returned to Ōtaki from Australia, issued the challenge of building the church to the chief of Te Wehiwehi, who accepted. Rangiātea Church was built under the direction of Te Rauparaha and English missionary Octavius Hadfield.
During the original construction in the 1840s, large totara logs had to be floated down rivers at nearby Ohau and Waikawa. The logs became the ridge pole and the central pillars of the church. The rafters, pillars and slabs were also made from totara.
The design of the church is unique in that it incorporates ideas from both English and Māori church design. The fenestration and flooring were done by English carpenters. A carpenter named Edward Prince, who had arrived in Wellington in 1841, was employed in making the window frames, as well as some other unspecified work.

Restorations

Rāngiatea Church's first documented restoration took place in 1886.