Masterton churches damaged in fire attacks

Emergency services responded to fires at St Patrick’s, the Anglican Church of the Epiphany, Masterton Baptist Church and Equippers Church Masterton, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.

The fires started between 4.25am and 4.35am. Crews responded from throughout the Wairarapa region and from Lower Hutt.

A few hours after the fire, Denise Holden, of the Catholic Parish of Wairarapa, said that people from the parish were not allowed inside the church while investigations were underway.

She said that a police officer who was driving past the church early on February 22 noticed that it was “red hot”, so he took a hose at the building into the foyer area and dampened down the flames before Fire and Emergency arrived.  

“We are very blessed and thankful to the policeman . . . “, she said.

A note posted to the Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa website over the weekend stated: “Due to the fire damage at St Patrick’s Church in Masterton, the church is closed until further notice. An alternative venue will be notified here once this information becomes available.”

Masterton mayor Gary Caffell said the attacks were shocking and locals had really rallied together.

“It’s been an outpouring of community support from tradespeople who are willing to help out, from organisations who have got halls and buildings that churches could have services in if they need to, it’s just been remarkable,” he said.

Mr Caffell said that the churches were working with their insurers to assess the damage.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said that “damage to the churches ranged from moderate to significant”.

“The fires are being treated as suspicious and have been referred to police,” Fire and Emergency said.

Police checked on other churches in the town, and had found evidence that some other churches had been targeted. but did not catch alight. A funeral home chapel was also targeted.

Police said that they were following up CCTV as well as a Facebook post in which a local man claimed he carried out those attacks.

“It does look as if they’ve used petrol bombs [for at least some of the churches],” a Police spokesperson said to TVNZ.

“The great thing about this is no one’s been injured.”

The fire started just a few hours before then-deacon at the Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa, now Fr Matt White, was ordained to the priesthood in Wellington.

Fr White’s Mass of Thanksgiving was scheduled to be celebrated at Martinborough in the Wairarapa on February 23.

Police asked for anyone with information that could assist them to please contact Police via 105.

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

FULL STORY

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/four-masterton-churches-catch-on-fire-in-suspicious-overnight-blazes/JX3HRLDKFRDC7FZBJF74ZS2LHE/ (By Ben Leahy and Georgina Campbell/New Zealand Herald)

Fires at multiple Masterton churches believed to be suspicious | RNZ News (Radio New Zealand)

Armed police cordon off road in Masterton (TVNZ)

Church arson attacks: Community comes together to help | RNZ News (Radio New Zealand)

newsletter_7th_sunday_of_the_year_2025.pdf (Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa)

The Catholic Parish of Wairarapa – Home (Catholic Parish of Wairarapa)