Mayor Brett Ambler said five members of council held an emergency meeting outside the burnt-out church this morning to express their sadness and sympathy with the church community at the loss of a great taonga (treasure).
This was a national shrine. You will never replace 150 years of history. What you can do is soften it by providing some future opportunities."
He said if and when the three iwi associated with the church - Ngati Toa, Te Ati Awa and Ngati Raukawa - and the church's vestry decided to rebuild, the council would provide an initial sum of $50,000. It would also make available any resources or manpower it could.
He said it was not up to the council to decide to see whether a restoration fund should be set up.
Mr Ambler said the sight of four to five totara beams smoking in the ruins had been extremely moving.
Retired Anglican vicar Canon Lance Robinson said the church was irreplaceable.
"It was of tremendous historical spiritual and social significance."
He thought it would be rebuilt but it would be difficult to recapture its magnificence.