Country Churches of NZ 115. Otakou Maori Memorial Church, Otago Peninsula

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

OTAKOU MAORI MEMORIAL CHURCH, OTAGO PENINSULA

Otakou is the more correct form of Otago. It means 'place of red ochre' and nothing could be more suggestive of that name than the Otakou Maori Memorial Methodist Church on the west slopes of Otago Peninsula.

The most amazing thing about this church, is that its carved bargeboards, lintels and posts are all moulded in concrete.

Designed by Miller & White of Dunedin, it was built in 1940 and replaced an 1865 weatherboard church on a site given by Ngai Tahu chief Taiaroa - a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi - when he became a Christian in 1857. (It was also Te Matenga Taiaroa who sold land to Johnny Jones, some of which Jones gave for the site of St. John's, Waikouaiti. See Country Churches 113.

Beautifully maintained in impeccable surroundings, it is a tribute to the efficient management style of Ngai Tahu*

*Ngai Tahu is the dominant Maori tribe of New Zealand’s South Island

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 113. St. John's, Waikouaiti, Otago

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

ST. JOHN'S, WAIKOUAITI, OTAGO

I'm a cheat! When I did this watercolour of St. John's it was being re-decorated and the dull buff walls were about to be painted white with green windows and doors. So I anticipated the decorators by a day or two.

Built in 1858, it's the oldest Anglican church in Otago - many of the tombstones around it are even older. The land was given by Johnny Jones of nearby Matanaka who also paid to have it built.

It is claimed to be B.W. Mountfort's architecture but I've been expertly advised that there is neither proof of his authorship nor does it fit his style.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.