Seven months on, a chapel sits in ruins as Te Hauke waits for answers

Author: Michaela Gower,
Publish Date: Sun, 31 May 2026, 8:46am

Police are not giving up on their investigation into an alleged arson that destroyed a chapel, leaving only a portrait of Jesus untouched.

Seven months on, high fences surround the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Te Hauke, about 21km southwest of Hastings on State Highway 2.

A charred roof alludes to the destruction inside after the October 12 fire, deemed suspicious at the time by police. The chapel area was destroyed, and the administration wing was damaged by smoke.

The building could no longer be used by members of the Tamatea Te Hauke branch, who had to travel to Waipukurau for Sunday services, Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Bayden Barber said.

“They need to find their way to Waipukurau. It is a burden, the cost of fuel and just the cost of living at the moment. Te Hauke is not a big community and a lot of the whānau there are struggling to do the basics, so it’s an added cost in time and fuel.”

He said the investigation had been slow.

“We all drive past there and think what is happening, what is next.”

A fire in October last year at the Mormon chapel in Te Hauke left the building badly damaged. Photo / Ngāti Kahungunu

“There is some level of frustration within the Te Hauke community that this case hasn’t been closed off.”

Barber said at the time of the fire that it was a huge blow to a historical beacon of Hawke’s Bay, which was built between 1961 and 1963.

“It’s pretty ironic, really. The whole chapel is gutted out, and you have got the portrait of Jesus Christ untouched and undamaged.

“It surprised me how fast it went up. It’s an old brick building, and it was engulfed by flames quite quickly. I’m just like everyone else, wondering what happened.

“You could see that the flames were coming through the roof in the chapel down the far end where the congregation meets.”

Barber said the future of the chapel remained uncertain.

“The church needs to make a decision on what it’s going to do with the chapel.

“It is unclear whether it is going to be rebuilt, refurbished or knocked down or what, because either way there is going to be implications.”

He said the alleged arson was “as bad as it gets”.

“It’s probably as low as you can go, in my view. It’s right up there with doing the same to marae or any spiritual place.”

Detective Constable Jordan Aro said police were continuing with their investigations.

They wanted to hear from anyone with information about the incident.

“Anyone can provide information can contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz, or call 105. Please use the reference number 251017/1748.”

Information can also be provided through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based in the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.