- Pacific Islanders Samoan Presbyterian Church in Papatoetoe sold about 16,500 square metres
- The sale price was about $20 million
- The church bought its grounds for $980,000 in 1993
- About 100 homes are planned, with a new church on the remaining land
A Samoan Presbyterian church in South Auckland has sold part of its land for about $20 million to make way for around 100 homes, OneRoof reported in March 2024.
The Pacific Islanders Samoan Presbyterian Church at 80 Wyllie Road, Papatoetoe, sold about 16,500 square metres carved from its 42,000-square-metre grounds. The church bought the site for $980,000 in 1993, and in 2021 its capital value was $31.825 million. It was listed in October 2021, and the buyer, a medium-sized construction and development company, was not named.
The plans include about 100 terrace and standalone homes at affordable entry-level prices, a new church on the remaining land, a community event facility, a possible childcare facility and rental housing to provide income for the church. Total project costs were expected to exceed $50 million.
“The church wanted to sell to the right person, it wasn’t just about the price,” said Harcourts agent Aman Gulia. “It took a long time to find a buyer that was aligned not only to make it work financially, but for a mutually beneficial solution.” Mary Autagavaia, secretary of the church’s development committee, said: “Our aspiration is to utilise the land to provide much needed housing for the community.”
The Papatoetoe story shows how a migrant congregation’s land can become its biggest asset over 30 years. Jamaican congregations abroad that bought land decades ago may be sitting on similar value. The model is worth studying: sell part of the site, keep and rebuild the church, and hold rental homes for long-term income.
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