St Paul’s Anglican Church


The characterful St Paul's was constructed of Kawakawa stone in 1925, and stands on the site of the original mission church, a simple raupo (bulrush) hut erected in 1823. Look for the native birds in the stained glass above the altar – the kotare (kingfisher) represents Jesus (the king plus ‘fisher of men’), while the tui (parson bird) and kererū (wood pigeon) portray the personalities of the Williams brothers (one scholarly, one forceful), who set up the mission station here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Williams House & Gardens

0.2 MILES

The historic buildings and gardens of Paihia's First Mission Station include a restored stone store, and now house a community library and a community…

2. Opua Forest

0.47 MILES

Just behind Paihia, this regenerating forest has walking trails ranging from 10 minutes to five hours. A few large trees have escaped axe and fire,…

3. Waitangi Treaty Grounds

1.38 MILES

Occupying a headland draped in lawns and bush, this is NZ's most significant historic site. Here, on 6 February 1840, after much discussion, the first 43…

4. Pompallier Mission

2.06 MILES

Built in 1842 to house the Catholic mission’s printing press, this rammed-earth building is the mission's last remaining building in the western Pacific,…

5. Russell Museum

2.15 MILES

This small museum has a well-presented Māori section, a large 1:5 scale model of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, a 10-minute video on the town’s history and an…

6. Christ Church

2.2 MILES

English naturalist Charles Darwin made a donation towards the cost of building this, the country’s oldest surviving church (1836). The graveyard's biggest…

7. Haruru Falls

2.44 MILES

A walking track (one way 1½ hours, 5km) leads from the Treaty Grounds along the Waitangi River to these attractive horseshoe falls. Part of the path…

8. Omata Estate

2.47 MILES

With a growing reputation for red wines – especially its old-growth syrah – Omata Estate is one of Northland's finest wineries. To complement the tastings…