Tukupā Ma’a Kalaisi - Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
Kānoa administered a total of $9.17 million of government funding to enable the renovations and restorations of 27 Pasifika Churches, from Balclutha to Kirikiriroa Hamilton, helping to create jobs and improve facilities for all Pasifika communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Tukupā Ma’a Kalaisi – Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
Timaru's Tukupā Ma’a Kalaisi (Free Wesleyan Church) was granted $500,000 from the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund to undertake necessary earthquake strengthening and safety upgrades – ensuring the long-term viability of the structure. Alongside strengthening, alterations were made to the church including new fire alarms, new wiring, heating, lighting, paint and carpet with the Churches’ meeting room also receiving a well needed refresh.
The facility is an important part of the Tongan community in Timaru and across the South Island, with the Free Wesleyan Church being the largest Christian denomination in Tonga. While the main purpose of the church is to provide a place of worship – it also plays the role of the ‘village’ for the Pasifika community, being used by the wider congregation in the South Island for combined service, events and functions. The Tongan society and community also use the church for various events – from evening classes for adults in literacy to a centre for youth.
The church bought the former St Peter's Anglican Church building (built in the 1910’s) and its accompanying hall (built in 1950’s) in 2017 through a trust on the parish's behalf by a Christian businessman. The Tongan parish had been leasing the building for 3 years before making it their permanent home in 2019.
A real community effort was required to deliver the work, with locals conducting regular working bees on weekends to reduce costs – bringing the church to a more comfortable state, and in accordance with the building code.