Your new cultural destination and centre for music
We've made some great progress at Kāhui St David's this summer and overcome a few challenges as well. It's time to share with you what's taking place within the walls of our treasured Soldiers' Memorial Church.
The Great Hall is filled to the rafters with scaffolding to enable ceiling maintenance, stone and concrete repairs, electrical rewire, restoration of the 1930s' lanterns, installation of stage lighting, general lighting, speakers and a projector.
We thank the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust for their generous support, and for grants received from Lottery Grants Board and Auckland Council. And we thank those who are purchasing the Sara Hughes Colour Quartet artworks. Please see below for an update, and how to purchase including the opportunity to pay over time.
The videos below capture some of the day-to-day achievements from our team of workers who are transforming the place for your next visit.
Watch as the 1930's lantern is illuminated for the first time in a long time - on the evening of Thursday 15 February at Kāhui St David's.
Paul Newson, fabricating engineer, Millar Samson.
Stonemasonry restoration work being undertaken.
We have carefully removed this window to save it. We don't have funds right now to restore it, but it will be stored in a safe place until we do!
Thanks to John Jones from A Touch of Glass.
Artwork Purchases
an update to our valued supporters
Thanks so much for your patience and support for the Kāhui St David's art project.
We are pleased to be able to provide a good news update. After delays caused by brass supplies and other challenges over the summer break, we've managed to buy the last remaining supply of brass in New Zealand!
We are now working alongside artist Sara Hughes for the production of the Colour Quartet artworks. This is a huge and time-intensive process. Now the brass has been cut and lacquered, the next processes include around 3 weeks of preparation and printing, which is then followed by around 2 weeks of packing before safe delivery can commence. We anticipate deliveries to be underway throughout March, April and potentially into May.
This remarkable series of specially commissioned works has seen overwhelming demand. We are grateful for your support, which is enabling the building's illumination, restoration work, and development into a new cultural destination and centre for music for all.
The artworks are still available to order by visiting our website. The artworks are available to buy individually, in pairs, as a triptych (3), quartet (4) or a larger installation. To pay for art over time (eg: over a year) email contact@kahuistdavids.nzand we will send you an invoice.
Many thanks to Sara and Gow Langsford Gallery for their generous support.
TVNZ 1News
One of the highlights at the end of last year, was TVNZ 1 News Reporter Corazon Miller coming in just before Christmas to record a special news feature on the Art of Remembrance 2023 - Sara Hughes, at Kāhui St David's.
The news story features artist Sara Hughes, Kāhui St David's Director Paul Baragwanath and musicians; Jazmin Upago, Olive Mortimer and Charlies Lia (En Passant), We're grateful to these three young musicians, who came in especially to compose and perform their own message from Kāhui St David's for you all.
Click here or on the image below to watch the TVNZ 1News Story.
