Kerikeri Mission House to open again

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information release
3 April 2007

The Kerikeri Mission House - New Zealand's oldest surviving building - will open its doors to the public again five days after rising waters threatened to damage the 185-year old building.

Historic Places Trust staff were so concerned about the rising waters from the Kerikeri River adjacent to the Mission House that they and a team of volunteers sandbagged it and the neighbouring Stone Store, and evacuated important artifacts and archives at the height of the flood emergency last week.

"We're delighted that the Mission House and Stone Store are still intact, and we have now returned the collection items back to the Mission House. Tomorrow [Wednesday April 4] it will be business as usual," says the Historic Places Trust's Northland Manager, Stuart Park.

"We'd also like to encourage people who are thinking of taking a trip north over the Easter break to come up and pay us a visit - we'll be open throughout the Easter weekend."

Media Contact: Stuart Park, Ph 09-407-4443