Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7420
Date Entered
4th April 1998
Date of Effect
4th April 1998
City/District Council
Ruapehu District
Region
Horizons (Manawatū-Whanganui) Region
Legal description
Lots 8 & 9 DP 3499 Pt Sec 43 Manunui Village Settlement
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
7420
Date Entered
4th April 1998
Date of Effect
4th April 1998
City/District Council
Ruapehu District
Region
Horizons (Manawatū-Whanganui) Region
Legal description
Lots 8 & 9 DP 3499 Pt Sec 43 Manunui Village Settlement
Cultural Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Spiritual: St Matthew's Church, built in 1909, has been a focus of Presbyterian spirituality in Manunui for over 86 years.
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Historical: In 1909 St. Matthew's Church and a manse were built by Harvey and Sons of Taumaranui by the Presbyterian Maori Mission Committee to accommodate the Rev. James. Monfries's work "for the betterment of the Maoris. Although intended for Maori use and early services were held in both English and Maori, it was not used for the Maori mission. The church was acquired by the local community, which then served a thriving and newly-developing timber industry. Monfries and his wife, a doctor, conducted the Sunday school. The simple wooden building built on large river boulders, remains the centre of Presbyterian life in Manunui.
Detail Of Assessed Criteria
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. (a) The extent to which the place reflects important or representative aspects of New Zealand history: Christianity has played a significant role in the history of New Zealand since 1814. The religion's spread began with missionary work amongst Maori but by the early 1900s this was largely confined to isolated rural places such as Manunui, which in 1909 was a relatively raw, mud-splattered township, serving a timber industry that had been made viable only by the very recent completion of the Main Trunk Railway. St Matthew's, planned originally as a Maori mission, served the community as a parish church and continues to do so today. Although later than many coastal and South Island churches on the NZHPT Register, St Matthew's may be considered an 'early' building for places such as Manunui.
Construction Details
Start Year
1909
Type
Original Construction
Completion Date
1st January 1998
Report Written By
Gavin McLean
Report Written By
A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Central region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Former Usages
General Usage:: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Themes
Of Significance to Maori