The old Plunket car seat hire rooms in Ranui, Porirua spent several years vacant, and quite derelict, until our Porirua whānau stepped in. The building was comprehensively renovated to become a new community resource after the Porirua Anglicans successfully tendered for it in May last year. “I believe the hand of God was on the purchase of this building,” says Terry Alve, Priest in Charge. “While the building was on the market longer, without our realising it, we had only two weeks to gain necessary permissions to offer a competitive tender in the hot housing market at the time.”

The renovations were led by recently retired businessman David Parmenter who has some experience in property development and who voluntarily co-ordinated the project over six months. “I am very grateful for the chance to put something back into this great community. I acknowledge all the trades people who put this community project upfront in their busy workload, and all the volunteers who helped, especially the tradesman painter Ravu and members of the Manulevu family who recently completed an external repaint. We are also grateful to all our local suppliers who supported the renovations,” said David.

The Centre was blessed and dedicated by Bishop Ellie as ‘Whare Karakia – House of Prayer’ on the 27th February. The Blessing and Dedication service was attended by Porirua City Councillor Ross Leggat representing the Mayor, Archdeacon Kura Andrews from the Rota Waitoa Anglican Māori Church in Elsdon and Pastor Geoff Malcolm representing Porirua ministers, along with about 60 others. A feature of the service was the gifting of a Prayer Quilt to St Anne’s Pantry Facilitator Jane Dagger. This was lovingly made by Pauatahanui Anglicans and gifted by Marie Preston in recognition of their support for the food bank. The Quilt was blessed by the Bishop during the opening ceremony, as were gifts from Rota Waitoa including the Lord’s Prayer in Māori.

Parish Priest Terry Alve asserted during the service that, “A driving force for purchasing this building was for the church to have a visible and accessible presence in Eastern Porirua where the people are.”

A range of church and community activities will happen in the building. It will be a permanent home for St Anne’s Pantry which has as an emergency food bank in Porirua for thirty-five years. Prayer and study, pastoral counselling, administration, plus other church and community gatherings will locate in te Whare. Occasional services will be held here, although Porirua Anglicans continue to use the St Anne’s complex for Sunday worship.