Our future at 126 Meeanee Road
The New Life Napier leadership team believe that God has said now is the time to start the project to move New Life Napier to 126 Meeanee Road.
Our vision is for a place of worship, community and connection where we can know God and make Him known. The new building is a tool for the Kingdom, not the goal.
What we have done so far
A concept design for the new church was developed in July 2020 so that a Resource Consent could be granted. We sought an extension in 2024 and the consent now expires in July 2030. The concept design was amended in 2023 with input from consultants WSP. The design indicates basic size and layout.
Over the past few years, we have sought professional input including planning advice, a geotechnical investigation, a topographical survey, reports on acoustics, structural, three waters, land valuations and a rough order cost estimate based on the plans and specialist advice.
The finances
New Life Napier owns 126 Meeanee Road freehold. We believe that God will bring in the finances to construct and fitout the new church and surrounding outdoor area. Professional estimates suggest this is in the order of $13 million at today’s prices. Our belief is that God will provide most of the finances without needing to borrow.
Timing
To ensure our current resource consent doesn’t expire, we must have made significant progress on the construction by July 2030. If we haven’t reached that stage, it would mean applying for a new resource consent from scratch. Once all finances are raised, we expect construction will take around eighteen months to complete, including fitout and driveways/carparks. We will not proceed with the build until we know we have the money (Luke 14:28).
Designs and plans
View the concept designs here.
The land area is 3.47 hectares. The building’s concept design is 1,925 square metres. This is subject to change as the design develops. In comparison, our current buildings are 1,124 square metres. It will include a 600-seat auditorium, along with a foyer, administration offices, children’s ministry rooms, kitchen, toilets and a multi-purpose outdoor area with patio and seating.
The auditorium can be partitioned off if the congregation is not yet large enough to need the full space.
The project team and how to be involved
The project team includes the oversight team and trustees, with Pastor Gareth Roberts, David Ironside and Des Parkinson leading the team. WSP is the lead professional consultancy.
As time goes on, we will bring in additional team members from the congregation who have skills or knowledge in areas needed by the project.
We will also need people who are willing to be part of a project prayer team and the finance team. More information about this will come.
Praying is one way everyone can help to bring God’s plans about. Remember, the goal is not the building, but how the building can eventually serve the church and the community.
Here are the prayer points for the building project.
Project history
In 2006, an opportunity came up to purchase 126 Meeanee Road. God was faithful in that the church was the successful tenderer, even though the tender was not the highest. The mortgage on the land was paid off many years ago. Since then, the oversight team has been waiting for God to say when the right time is to begin the project to build on the land. The team believes that time is now.
We also own our current building freehold. Decisions have not yet been made on what will happen to this building.
If you have any questions on the project, please email build@newlifenapier.nz or speak to Pastor Gareth, David Ironside or Des Parkinson.
Concept Plans
Site Plan
Floor Plan and Elevations
PRAYER POINTS
That God would raise up the right people for the project, either currently in the church or yet to join: a Joshua, Caleb, Aaron, Hur (Ex 17:12), Lydia (Acts 16:14).
That God would enable the church to ‘live beyond it’s means’: to proclaim with bold expectation that the money will come in to build what we believe is needed.
That God would provide the money to enable a decision on whether to proceed, in accordance with His timing.
That the oversight team and trustees would have God’s wisdom and knowledge to make the right decisions every step of the way.
That the New Life Napier congregation would support the leadership and project team with their skills, talents and finances as directed by God.
That God would send the right professional consultants for the project who understand the needs of a local church.
FAQs
Rationale
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In 2006, the leadership of the church were led to purchase the land at 126 Meeanee Road for future growth. The current oversight team is aligned with this original vision and believes this is the future for New Life Napier. Over recent years, the team has done background work to be ready when God says move.
We believe God has clearly spoken that now is the time to start the project in earnest. This also aligns with the oversight team believing that God spoke recently about growth at New Life Napier and our need to be ready. There are other practical issues that tie in, including the current resource consent, which allows us to develop the site, expiring in July 2030.
New Life Napier has had several prophetic words from outside ministries at various key times. These support what the previous and current oversight team believe God has been saying over the years.
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1. We believe growth is coming and we should build to the maximum size allowed under our resource consent.
2. Enlarging a building after a few years is both very disruptive and costly.
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There may be future reasons for this, such as reaching a wider community by having services at different times, or by growth beyond the building size. But our heart is for our church community to stay connected. We don’t believe that running multiple services on a permanent basis is God’s current plan for New Life Napier.
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Our vision is to know God and make Him known. The new building will not change that and it will enhance it through more people coming into the church and having the space and ability to run bigger programmes, especially for children’s ministries.
Design
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The land area is 3.47 hectares. The building’s concept design is 1,925 square metres. This is subject to change as the design develops. In comparison, our current buildings are 1,124 square metres. The auditorium will have enough capacity for 600 seats.
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We have created dedicated rooms for under 5s, primary and intermediate ages. These have been based on standard classroom sizes and can be expanded as needed through adjoining doors.
There will also be a large foyer, office spaces, a kitchen and toilets.
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Our assumptions are based on what we believe God has said He will do in Napier and on current growth rate of New Life and what God is already doing here.
The main auditorium size is limited by resource consent constraints.
We want to ensure the final design and how it sits on the land provides future growth options for New Life Napier. We believe that God would have us ensure New Life Napier has a home to meet the needs of the church not just in the short term, but for the next 50 years or more.
We are engaging consultants who have worked on previous successful church projects and understand the needs of a modern community church. Our assumptions for all spaces are based on their expertise and experience.
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In the interim the auditorium can be partitioned off until the congregation grows. Because we believe that God will provide the finance before we start construction, there will be no issues in terms of church regular income to pay off loans.
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This will be in accordance with Napier City Council requirements.
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View the concept design and building footprint here. Note that this is a concept only, detailed designs have yet to be created. The intention is to have a modern simple building.
Cost
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Based on professional cost estimates, we are planning for a total cost of $13.5 million, including all professional fees, groundwork, construction, fitout and landscaping.
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Final landscaping such as lawns, plants and trees are excluded.
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We believe God will provide the strategies and miracle provisions. We are currently not planning to have significant borrowing for the project. How the finances will come in is in God’s hands. We are asking every member of New Life Napier to prayerfully consider how much they could contribute to this project.
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We are currently working on a project programme with timings and milestones. We estimate that we will need to make a final decision on whether to begin construction by late 2028.
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The oversight and trustees are very clear that wisdom and prudence is needed for this project. Jesus tells us in Luke 14:28 “Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” We will not proceed if we don’t have a clear understanding of where the money is coming from.
Project Governance
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The project is lead by the oversight team and trustees, with Pastor Gareth Roberts, David Ironside and Des Parkinson providing key leadership. Gareth has a background in finance; David is a retired Architect with 45 years’ experience in commercial and public buildings. Des was a civil engineer working in transportation and three waters infrastructure. We will be drawing on church members to join focused teams overseeing Building Delivery, Funding, and Prayer.
The lead professional consultant is Napier local Richard Daniels, an architect at WSP.
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Final decisions will be made by the oversight and trustees, in consultation with the professional consultants. Input will also be sought from the project Building Delivery Team, to be made up of church members with relevant experience.
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What are the project milestones and timing?
Phase 1:
Raise the finance
Engage professional consultants and specialists
Review concept design
Phase 2:
Design phases progressed:
1. Developed
2. Detailed
Estimating
Finance
Decision to proceed
Phase 3: Consenting
Phase 4:
Procurement
Phase 5:
Construction
Fit out
Further fundraising as required.
Communication
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We will include regular updates in the church newsletter and website. Major milestones will also be shared through in person meetings or updates on Sunday mornings as required.