All Saints' Anglican Church Hokitika
All Saints’ Church in Hokitika is of great significance to New Zealand’s history and the South Island in particular. It is a Category I listed heritage building and a WWI Memorial and a rare example of the early use of reinforced concrete cavity construction. The Church required urgent repairs to prevent further deterioration through water ingress and seismic upgrade work.
Since 2011, Salmond Reed Architects has been involved with All Saints’ advising on its staged restoration and assisting with fundraising – initially, producing a conservation plan, followed by specifications and managing contract works.
Stage 1 was completed in 2018 and funded by New Zealand Lottery Grants Board (Lottery Environment and Heritage) as well as support from the Diocese, All Saints’ Church Parishioners, Hokitika Parish and the Community. Stage 1 addressed the need to stop the water penetration of the flat roofs and seismic upgrading - structural connections between the roofs and walls. The tower restoration included renewing the roof membrane with traditional asphalt, relocating the bells inside the tower, the original timber louvres restoration and reinstatement of the traditional plaster weathering coat to the exterior walls. The plaster was formulated using local materials and sourcing the original sand from a local farmer - the result, an amazing vernacular finish for this attractive architectural gem.
Stage 2 will rely on more fundraising. The scope of work will include replacement of the main roof covering with new green glazed clay tiles - sourced from Belgium – to match the existing. The roof will be seismically upgraded with stainless steel fixing elements and the installation of a seismic diaphragm to the roof structure beneath the tiles. This stage will also complete the restoration of the leadlight windows and the repairs and upgrading of interiors.
