About 30 firefighters including two crews each from Otaki and Waikanae could not save the largely wooden structure. The cause of the blaze was being investigated.
Fire Service station officer Ian King who lives one block from the Te Rauparaha Street church, said the fire was well alight when the alarm was raised at 3.05am.
Fire Service inspectors from Palmerston North arrived at the scene about 4.30am. There were emotional scenes as a large crowd gathered.
Work began on the church in 1844 and it was completed seven years later in 1851. It was built by local Maori drawn together by the mana of aging chief Te Rauparaha. A two-year restoration project had just been completed.
Ngati Raukawa marae committee chairman John Moffatt said seven years labour of his forebears had “all been undone in a night”.