Anglican Bishop urged to intervene in Auckland sportsground ownership stoush

The Anglican Bishop of Auckland is being urged to intervene in a messy dispute over the ownership of a central Auckland sports ground.

The Hallyburton Johnstone Sports Club has hosted lawn bowls, tennis, and croquet at its Point Chevalier site since 1928.

But a charity, the Anglican Trust for Women and Children (ATWC), argues it is the legal owner of the land, which had a capital value of $5.15 million.

The trust was taking the sports club to the High Court as it wrestled to control the site.

Point Chevalier Bowls Club president Simon Munro said they were preparing for the legal fight.

Simon Monro at the club.
Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins

After over 700 people turned up to a community meeting last month, the club raised $28,000 from the community.

Bowls Auckland also loaned the club $25,000.

But Munro said this would not this be enough for the court hearing, which was expected next year.

“I don’t want to go to the High Court. We can’t afford it as a club.

“We’ve spent close to $50,000 on legal fees so far, but our lawyers are telling us that it’s going to be hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time this goes to the High Court.”

He said the Anglican Diocese of Auckland had influence over the appointment of ATWC trustees.

“The club understands that while the Bishop has distanced himself from the ATWC’s actions, the Church does have the power to remove and appoint Trustees under the Anglican Church Trusts Act (1981).

“There’s a meeting of the Synod, which is the governing body of the church [Auckland Anglican Diocese], which happens every September.

“That meeting is chaired by the bishop, and it’s also where the trustees are appointed, but they can also be removed.”

In a statement, ATWC chairperson Kevin Brewer said they were approached by The Public Trust six years ago, suggesting the Hallyburton Johnstone trust was at an end, and the land could be transferred to them.

He said their trustees had a responsibility to consider how the ATWC could best sustain its mission of supporting vulnerable families across Auckland.

“We understand this is a matter people feel strongly about and our intention is simply to resolve the issue responsibly and allow the appropriate legal process to determine the next steps.”

In a statement, Reverend Ross Bay confirmed the ATWC did social service work within the Diocese of Auckland and under the umbrella of the Anglican Church.

Reverend Ross Bay. (File photo)
Photo: Supplied / Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care

But he said the ATWC was independently governed.

“The Diocese of Auckland has a strong relationship with the ATWC but has no power to direct or interfere in its governance processes.

“I recognise that the claim taken by the Trust in relation to land occupied by various Pt Chevalier sports club is a sensitive issue. I understand the concerns that this has evoked within the local community as a whole and especially among the members of the affected clubs.

“I will continue to monitor the process and hope that a fair resolution can be achieved for all parties.”

He said the ATWC did not have any plans for the future of the site should a ruling fall in their favour.

The MP for Mount Albert, including the suburb of Point Chevalier, Helen White, said forcing a local sports club to spend money it does not have to fight for land they have occupied for almost a century is not a good look.

MP for Mount Albert Helen White. (File photo)
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

“The community would be deeply upset [if the sports club was no longer there], and I think it would hurt the reputation of both the Anglican Church and the trust involved.”

She said taking away the site, which also had a community garden and playground, from the sports club, would be of no benefit to women or children.

“I think it’s going to do real damage if this litigation continues or if, in fact, that charity won, that would be a terrible outcome for women and children and for that community.

“This is actually a very special club. It has a whole lot of different community activities in it. It doesn’t have pokies because it is mindful that it needs to support families.

“These are the very sorts of things that help women and children. They keep our children out of violent situations. They support our families. And at this time, when it’s really hard out there, this is an affordable space for everybody in that community.”

White said it was clear the original benefactor, Hallyburton Johnstone, intended for his land to be used for community sports.

The MP had written to Reverend Bay, asking him to step in.

“I would love to speak to that trust, and I would like to speak to the trustees, not a PR person. I would like to speak to the bishop.

“These are issues of concern that both of those parties should be taking some notice of the community interest in.”

She said when she contacted the ATWC to share her concerns, she was referred to a PR company.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.