Two committees have been formed from a recent meeting called by the Tokomairiro Co-operating Parish to discuss how it can tackle the job of upgrading and preserving the parish's church on the town's main street.
Parish spokeswoman Marion McGuigan said a small subcommittee had been formed to carry out tasks when needed, while a larger group with wider responsibilities was also created.
Both groups have the sole aim of finding enough money to carry out work needed to protect and enhance the landmark.
Mrs McGuigan said the first priority was to get various scoping reports like conservancy, engineering and others so the parish knew exactly what needed to be done and what the price tag might be.
She estimated at least $80,000 would be needed to pay for those initial reports before the parish tackled the bigger job of finding money for the actual improvements.
"We're on the road, but it will probably be a long road, I think," she said.
The project was initiated after moves last year by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust to formally classify the building.
Mrs McGuigan said the committees would meet again on May 20, when she hoped office bearers would be elected and work started on fundraising options.
