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Rangiātea: a History of Restoration
The first recorded restoration project was completed
in 1886. Rangiātea received new foundations, and
the three central pillars and heavy wall slabs (all
of which were near collapse) were strengthened. The
floor was lifted, 12 new buttresses were affixed, a
new iron roof was added, and repairs were made to the
bell and belfry.
To complete the work, the church was twice repainted.
This immense task cost over £300, much of which was
donated by the local community.
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Photograph courtesy New Zealand Historic
Places Trust and Te Rōpū Whakahaere o Rangiātea |
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The second major restoration programme was undertaken by the architect
Frederick De Jersey Clere, in 1908. The work included strengthening
the buttresses, the foundations and base of the side walls, and
replacing rotten floorboards. New seating was installed, the windows
were refurbished, and some 20 square feet of the tukutuku panels
were replaced.
Planning for the third restoration project began during the early
1930s, probably during the construction of the carved meeting house
Raukawa at Ōtaki. However, the actual work did not begin until
1947. On this occasion, the floor and most of the tukutuku panels
were replaced, a new carved pulpit was installed, and electric lighting
was fitted. Sir Āpirana Ngata, who led the project, brought
in experts from the East Coast to support the local weavers who
worked on the tukutuku panels.
The fourth restoration project took place during the 1990s, under
the management of the Vestry and the Historic Places Trust.
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photographer unknown Negative
no A.001533 Collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Tongarewa |
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Tukutuku workers - Rangiātea Church renovations
1949
These weavers proudly display the new tukutuku panels designed
for the lancet windows. The photo is taken outside the Raukawa dining
hall, on Raukawa Marae. From left to right, standing at rear: Maui
Takotoroa, Heni Te Kira Paenga (Lady Ngata), Mrs Pāora Temuera,
Te Whakarato Royal. Sitting on steps: Atareti Jacob, Hōne MacMillan,
Pareraukawa Carkeek.
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photograph by Mr Garth Carkeek Courtesy Mr Garth
Carkeek
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photographer unknown Negative no A.001485
Collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
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Weavers' group c 1950
From left, standing: Hinehou Rōiri, Āreta Davis,
Te Whakarato Royal, Lulu Roach, Te Uruhina Baker, Mrs Umakaihau
Wehipeihana, holding Waikura Johnson; kneeling, centre: Pareraukawa
Carkeek, Ria Connor; sitting, front: Weno Tahiwi, Haua Baker,
Mānahi Baker, Moana Connor, Mr Rikihana Carkeek.
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Ōtaki Church renovations: Rangiātea
Church 1948
Three workers pose outside Rangiātea. From left to
right: Tom Stevens, Paddy Bishop, Tom Cook. Absent from this
photograph were Taarake Rikihana and John Bishop.
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Photograph
courtesy New Zealand Historic Places Trust and Te Ropu Whakahaere
o Rangiātea
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photographer unknown Negative
no A.001490 Collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Tongarewa
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Ōtaki Church renovations: Rangiātea
Church 1948
These weavers pause for a photograph while preparing new tukutuku
panels for Rangiātea. From left: Roa Wharepōuri (nee Tūhou),
unidentified, Mrs Pāora Temuera, Atareti Jacob, Pareraukawa
Carkeek, Hone MacMillan.
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Rangiātea restoration project, 1994
Rangiātea's last restoration programme was a 15-month
project carried out by Te Rōpū Whakahaere o Rangiātea
(Rangiātea's Vestry), and the New Zealand Historic Places
Trust. Expert advice was provided by Māori buildings
conservator Dean Whiting.
The inside of the church was fully scaffolded, allowing
workers to carefully vacuum and wash the delicate art work
and tukutuku panels with de-ionised water. No solvents were
used during the restoration process. A special binding solution
was sprayed onto the paint, while loose and flaky paint was
glued to the surface using syringes.
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Photographs courtesy New
Zealand Historic Places Trust and Te Rōpū Whakahaere
o Rangiātea
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Careful examination was given to the tukutuku panels, allowing
weavers to rediscover ancient methods of tying and binding.
Some of the tukutuku panels were so fragile that they needed
to be cleaned with cotton bud tips. The altar rail was cleaned
with a magnifying glass and scalpel, again with de-ionised
water, to remove years of accumulated polish. The floor was
also stripped and resealed.
These images were selected from a collection of 216 slides
taken by the Historic Places Trust as a visual record of the
restoration project.
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The rededication of Rangiātea, 27
November 1994
On Sunday 27 November 1994, the newly restored Rangiātea
church was rededicated to the glory of God.
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photographs by Bill Neville
Courtesy Te Rōpū Whakahaere o Rangiātea
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The three-hour service was attended by some 500 people from around
the greater Wellington area, and extra seating was required outside
the building to accommodate the large crowds that gathered to celebrate
the church's reopening.
During the service, which was broadcast around the church grounds,
Rangi Nicholson and Charles Wilcox were ordained Deacon, and Rangi
Ransfield was priested. Thirty-nine children were confirmed and
six christened during the service.
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