GC439HR Keeping The Faith (Bay of Plenty) (Traditional Cache) in North Island, New Zealand created by tparty

This cache has been archived.

Curglaff: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

GC439HR ▼

A cache by tparty Message this owner

Hidden : 1/1/2013

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is a park and grab at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Pitua Road near Te Puna, Tauranga

There is no need to enter the Church grounds but you may be interested to read the three information plaques - one at the gate and two near the front door of the Church.

You may be able to respectfully enter the Church if the door is unlocked. Outside, the historic baptismal rock is worthy of a look.
You are looking for a small rectangular camo sistema container.
At the time of placement it contained a logbook; pencil and sharpener; with enough room for geocoins and small trackable items.
In 1838 Bishop Pompallier arrived in the Hokianga Harbour (Bay of Islands; Northland) and established the first Roman Catholic mission in New Zealand at Kororareka (now known as Russell). This was somewhat later than the first missionaries from the Church Missionary Society (Anglican) who arrived there in 1814. There was intense competition to convert and baptise Maori into the Christian faith. Often if one iwi (tribe) chose the Anglicans, their rivals would go with the Catholics. Conversions were slow at the start but this did not deter missionaries who travelled far and wide throughout New Zealand spreading the faith.

The first post for this building was erected in November 1898. Rimu logs were sourced 17 km away in the Whakamarama bush and horses dragged the pit-sawn timber down to the Te Puna River where they were rafted up and poled downstream into the harbour. From here they were finally hauled up to the building site. The construction was undertaken by Werehiko Borell and Hone Bidois. Both were sons of early French settlers who had married into local Maori families.


St Joseph's Church	Stained Glass Window	Memorial Gate	Baptismal Rock

The Church bell has an interesting history. It was given to the original Catholic Church at Otumoetai in Tauranga by Bishop Pompallier. Due to land confiscations following the New Zealand Wars in the 1860's, Maori were forced from their land at Otumoetai. The Church fell into disrepair and the bell was relocated to St Mary's Church. This caused considerable argument between the predominantly Pakeha congregation of St Mary's and the mainly Maori congregation of Te Puna who considered the bell their property. The Church Fathers of the respective parishes actually came to physical blows over the issue! The bell stayed at St Mary's until 1920, when a group of Maori parishioners from Te Puna raided and removed the prized bell to St Joseph's where it remains today.

St. Joseph's was officially opened on the 1st of January 1900. It has a kauri floor with rewarewa linings on the walls, and boasts a spectacular stained glass window (The Crucified, Risen Christ over Tauranga Moana). Carvings, kowhaiwhai (spiral work) and tukutuku (weaving work) panels inside the building reflect the strong links that this Church has in serving the needs, and keeping the faith of the local Maori community.

While you are in the area, you may wish to find:
Oikimoke Point

Many thanks to our Reviewer for arranging the publication of this cache on the day of the
113th anniversary of the Church

Apteryx7

Apteryx7

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Orgjrra yrsg-unaq cbfg naq urqtr. TY

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

This cache has been archived.

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Keeping The Faith (Bay of Plenty) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

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