The History of Titoki

The Rev Don Ferguson made the decision to start the Titoki Healing Centre in 1975.

The original owners of the 10 acre block were keen to see the property used as a Healing Centre, and were very supportive of the idea.
The name Titoki came from not only the road on which it is situated , but the large Titoki tree just inside the main gate. The Titoki tree has healing properties known to the Maoris who used the berries and the leaves. A berried sprig of Titoki is the logo on our stationary.

Originally the centre had nurses on site for after hospital convalescence and access to doctors.
There is often a strong connection to physical pain from emotional pain, and there has always been an emphasis at Titoki of walking with the guest to a place of freedom with Gods presence.
The different staff members bring an individual flavour to the atmosphere , but the main emphasis on the presence of God continues to be the focus of Titoki.
Is the Retreat Centre only for Christians? Definitely not. The warmth and love often talked about by visitors is not at all selective.
Buildings have been added to the property over the years and today staff and guests enjoy a comfortable setting in park like surroundings.
Volunteers form a huge part of the working network . Their tasks range from preserving to lawns, painting to gardening. Their help is invaluable.

Matt & Abbie

Matt brings such delight to the faces of everyone as he brings his chef training into our world. He enjoys being able to use our own garden produce and the meat from our own stock in a way that honours a generous God. He was trained at the Hyatt Hotel in Auckland . As a teenager he lived here for a short while his parents worked here for a number of years.
He and Abbie his wife are also developing a fancy cake business which also utilizes Abbie’s art skills. Her paintings can be seen in the house and these are available for purchase.

John & Ann Niven

John and Ann bring a wide depth and breadth of experience to Titoki.
John is a registered electrician , an ordained Presbyterian minister and an ordained Anglican priest, who has worked in many places including New Zealand and Singapore.
Ann ,a trained teacher, compliments John with her theological qualifications.
Together they see themselves providing leadership and using the extensive counselling experience that has come out of nearly 40 years of pastoring and missionary work.
They want to see people healed , marriages restored , people understanding themselves better through personality profiles, people being refreshed and renewed so that they can get on with their task in the mission of Jesus Christ.

Graeme and Cynthia Johnson

Cyn and Graeme bring to Titoki a depth of knowledge and experience having successfully worked in government, commercial and Christian enviroments,and having run their own horticultural business over an extended period.

They are practical, relaxed and competent individuals with a sound Christian faith, wanting to see God's Hand at work in the lives of ordinary people.

They made themselves available to serve, when they sensed and responded to Gods call to Titoki, and have taken up roles with the full support of their son, daughter and their famillies.