TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY DECEMBER 12, 2024
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DECEMBER 12, 2024
Historic churches raided By Chris Gardner
St John’s Anglican Church parish priest Archdeacon the Rev Julie Guest is struggling to feel the Christmas spirit with the vandalism of church buildings and theft.
Staff at St John’s Anglican Church in Te Awamutu have taken to sleeping over to protect the building from thieves. Parish priest Julie Guest said staff began sleeping in the church and security systems were installed after a series of incidents beginning with the burning of a car parked in front of the church on George St early last month. “As St John’s is a concrete structure, the building suffered only scorch marks, but the wreck was visited nightly by those seeking to further loot and destroy the remains. Shortly after that, a copper downpipe was stolen from St John’s,” Guest said. The church stands alongside Waikato’s oldest surviving building
the Category 1 St John’s Church. Thieves hit another historic church a few days later Spouting along one side of historical St Paul’s church in Rangiaowhia Rd, Hairini was ripped off, causing damage to the remaining roof. “Two days after that the thieves returned to strip the spouting from the other side of St Paul’s. They just ripped it off with absolutely no care for the building. That this sacred taonga for the whole community should be ravaged in that way is hard to fathom,” Guest said. “The worst and final discovery was that thieves have begun removing the flat roofing off St John’s, all of which is copper. A building without spouting or downpipes is messy, but a building without a roof covering is open to
weather – on the way to ruin. “This building has been there for 60 years, and it’s got another 60 years in it,” she said. Police are investigating. Guest told The News the vandalism and theft was a distraction of her church’s work to bring justice and reconciliation following the wrongs committed against Māori in the New Zealand Land Wars. She has launched an appeal for help, asking the community to keep a close eye on her building, look out for copper roofing being offered for sale, and for financial help to assist with repairs. “One lot of advice suggests we should remove all the copper, the entire roof and spouting on St John’s,” she said. “Although we can claim
insurance to patch what has been stolen to date, once we lodge a claim, we will not be insured for a further claim should the thieves return.” Guest is awaiting a quote for the removal of copper and replacement of the roof. “Whatever we do, the cost is likely to be prohibitive, but having no roof to protect the building is not an option either. It is a dilemma that requires prayer, and whatever financial support and aid we can find,” she said. “Please help. It’s hard to feel in the Christmas spirit and be jollying people along.” Guest, supported by her husband Andrew, has led the parish of four churches since 2019. The Queen Mother worshipped at St John’s in 1966.
Pirongia’s Five Stags for sale By Chris Gardner
Pirongia’s pub is up for sale after its owners failed in a final attempt to get their licence back. Nora Fu, sole shareholder of Night Pearl Ltd, shut the Five Stags Restaurant and Bar in the middle of the year. The Waipā District Licensing Committee declined to renew Fu’s licence early this year. Link Business Waikato real estate agent Therese BaileyCarter said the business was worth about $1 million but the vendor was open to offers. “There’s been quite a lot of
interest, but it’s about getting the right person in there,” she said. The community’s social media Facebook page has discussed the announcement. “It’s been a ridiculous fiasco for too long,” said Peter Bridgland. “Let’s hope the community gets its pub back soon.” “Hope we get a proprietor who loves the place and knows how to run a successful tavern-restaurant,” said Brian Derbyshire. “We all want the pub to do well and serve the community well.”
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Fu’s appeal to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licencing Authority in June failed after it heard staff continued to serve alcohol on parts of the premises not covered by the licence between hearing dates, the bar served alcohol to an underage drinker during a police-led controlled purchase operation in November 2023, and Fu failed to properly appoint and notify a duty manager. Earlier, the Employment Relations Authority ordered the company to pay more than $21,000 following the dismissal of an employee.
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