The first Pacific church buildings were often the under-utilised buildings of other churches. When new churches were constructed they were similar to European buildings. This changed in the 1980s, when new designs began to reflect traditional Pacific architecture. Among the first churches along these lines was the True Vine Tongan Methodist Church in Grey Lynn, Auckland. Its patterned wooden walls show a strong Pacific influence. Inside, special seats were built beside the pulpit for Tonga's royal family and nobility. Special waiting rooms were also provided for nobles to gather before services.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
by Melanie Lovell-Smith
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.