How HolyGround Began
“HolyGround Parua Bay” (previously known as “Parua Bay Christian Youth Haven” or “the haven”) was established by Northland Evangelical Movement: an interdenominational organization founded in 1945 by a group of families, mostly farmers.
Their original aims were:
First, to encourage and bring together Christians from varying denominations who were interested in furthering the Kingdom of God throughout Northland and New Zealand.
And Secondly, by gathering to promote opportunities for fellowship, discipleship training and service that would improve the “mental, moral and spiritual’ states of its members and those in the wider community who sought to move forward in their Faith.
Check out NEM’s current goals
The Parua Bay Campground
The property on Wharf Road was purchased in 1960 by 10 founding families who each donated 10 pounds towards the deposit. The remainder was donated by the land-owner.
Parua Bay itself is located within the rohe (area) of Ngatiwai. The hapu (subtribe) of Parua Bay is Ngati Tu which is considered to be one of the oldest in the Whangarei area.
Horomona Kaikou was it’s paramount chief. The English missionary William Colenso met Horomona while traveling to the Bay of Islands where Horomona was baptized and given the name Solomon. This is the Solomon that the Solomon’s Point area was named after.
Verbal history as told to our committee is that the HolyGround area may have been used as a haven for early Māori Christians.
Find your way to the campground
Our Previous Events
HolyGround’s first camp was held on the Easter of 1964, it sparked an annual tradition that has allowed thousands of children the opportunity to experience the goodness of God in an action-packed, fun filled weekend.
Not only have we expanded to more camps throughout the year, we have also expanded the age range of our camps, so that now we operate both kids and older youth events.
This has allowed us to make a greater impact throughout the lives of the kids who grow up coming here, not only in their relationships with our heavenly father, but also into the nurturing leaders who help others here at HolyGround.
HolyGround has also hosted many other organisation’s camps over the years, including an annual AA Serenity camp, family reunions, weddings, birthdays, dances, church camps, school groups and other community hobby, music, and sporting organisations.
In 2009 our camp (once again!) came close to needing to be sold, however it’s clear that God still hasn’t finished with our place yet, as he sent us tenants to stay during the school terms for 5 years, enabling us to re-develop much of the camp and make it fit for purpose in the 21st century.
Interested in joining the next chapter of HolyGround’s history?
Check out what’s coming up next
OR
Make an enquiry to hire out the grounds
