Restorations can be a long time in the making and the St Clement’s Maori Anglican Church in Ahipara is no exception, as Salmond Reed Architects started the process of investigations, research, and reporting as early as 2005. This prominent church in the Far North has exceeded all expectations with its bright new sanctuary window, entry porch, and distinctive bell tower - all in time for its Sesquicentenary in 2024.
The restoration works to the exterior followed the completion of new rail tunnels beneath the building as part of the major City Rail Link (CRL) transportation scheme. Our professional heritage services and comprehensive documentation guided the repairs to the external fabric of the building.
The project was conservation-led, requiring careful decisions regarding material selection and the extent of intervention required to preserve the original heritage fabric. This considered the anticipated lifespan of the repairs alongside the future maintenance needs of the building, ensuring a balanced approach. The stone faces underwent a meticulous cleaning process to restore their original appearance, and the restoration of the exterior façade involved the skillful piecing in of new Oamaru stone to replace decayed material, following time-honoured techniques of repair.
In addition to stone conservation and cleaning, architectural embellishments that had worn surfaces were reinstated through the application of a complete new fines coat to the plaster elevations; traditional Neuchatel mastic asphalt replaced failing roofing membranes; projecting parapet ledges and cornices were fitted with new lead sheet capping to resolve water damage; and a full restoration of the steel window joinery was undertaken, involving careful bare metal preparation and repainting.
OCTA Project Management were responsible for the overall project on behalf of Auckland Transport.
