Moana Church Lake Brunner

08/10/2026

Good evening folks,

This year we are requesting stall holders to communicate directly through our new Moana Market Day email rather than through Messaging on this page.
Our new Market Day email is:

[email protected]

Have a great rest of your week 😊

22/09/2026

If you are interested in having a stall on Jan 2nd please email: [email protected] for registration.

Good evening folks,

This year we are requesting stall holders to communicate directly through our new Moana Market Day email rather than through Messaging on this page.
Our new Market Day email is:

[email protected]

Have a great rest of your week 😊

12/09/2026

We have had some Messages asking for photos of Moana at the time St John's Church was relocated from Ruru. We have received or found the following images which we have identified with yellow letters to allow easier feedback from viewers. We would also like to credit the photographers, if we could establish who they were? A. Moana c1947 (St Johns Church still in Ruru) Koe St not yet extended between Ana and Kehu St.
B. Close up of image A.
C. Moana date unknown ... Koe St formed from Ana St but not reaching Kehu St. No church yet.
D. Moana c1972 with Koe St formed and St Johns Church now in place on Ahau St.
E. Moana c1980?
F. Moana 1925

07/09/2026

1968. St John the Baptist Church at Ruru is relocated to Moana. At the time it was thought that it would one day rival the famous St James Church at Franz Josef in its new scenic location. Rev Olsen in 1968 told the Greymouth Evening Star "that the altar window of the church will have an excellent view of picturesque Lake Brunner. ... and it does!

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

Continuing with our timeline images of St Johns Church, Ruru, before its relocation to Moana.
A Greymouth Evening Star report from "[Our Own Correspondent.]" gives us an idea of community life in the Midland Line in 1937.
Two Greymouth Evening Star Public Notices showing the church was used by both Church of England and St Patrick's Parish.
In 1941 a platform for the Christening Font was erected in the church to commemmorate the consecration of the church by the Bishop of Nelson.
From the West Coast Recollections site we have found photos of Scotty and Shirley Thompson's wedding - a photo of them as they emerge from the church and one of Peggy Brereton, who was a bridesmaid to Shirley Klemple.
Recently we received from the Lemon family this image of the church, at Ruru, with its entrance door facing the road and the lake.
And, a huge thank you to Tony Kokshoorn for this image showing where the church was located in Ruru before its shift to Moana.

24/08/2026

Our Moana Church was originally opened and dedicated on 15th December, 1935, in Ruru. We are searching for photos of the church at that time or over later years, of weddings, christening and other events while the church was at Ruru. Please help us to gather images and information before its lost forever. Below- Greymouth Evening Star's report on the opening (spread over 2 images).

20/08/2026

Without volunteers, communities could not create the amazing facilities, organisations, and support their families rely on. The Ruru Church took years of fund raising before it eventuated. These are two adverts from the Greymouth Evening Star archives (1931 & 1935), that remind us of the fabulous work our forebears achieved. If you would like to be part of a Moana Heritage Trust group promoting the use of the Moana Church as a community facility, and helping organise community and heritage events, please contact us [email protected]