SAFETY RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE: Please read our new policies before you visit. More details
Ko Te Parihi o Hato Mere
St Mary's Parish
Otaki
ABOUT OUR PARISH
Naumai, haeremai. Tena koutou katoa.
Welcome to the website of the sacred site of Pukekaraka and the whanau of Hato Mere/St Mary’s Parish, Otaki.
It is from here that Catholicism spread in the early 1840s within the Wellington Archdiocese, which at that time included what is now the diocese of Palmerston North. Pukekaraka is blessed to have the oldest, still in use Catholic church in New Zealand. This building serves as a weekday Mass centre, is often requested for baptisms, weddings and funerals and is recognised as a special place for prayer.
In 2014, the parish was amalgamated with St Joseph’s Levin, but, in order to acknowledge the mana of Ngati Kapu and their place in the history of the Archdiocese, Cardinal Dew on 28th February, 2021, promulgated St Mary’s as a separate entity once again. The Covenant made with Ngati Kapu when they permitted the Church to use their land for the Mission, was renewed in December, 2020. This Kawenata (Covenant) recognises Ngati Kapu as Kaitiaki of the Mission who offer and welcome non-Maori to work with them.
The land entrusted to the Church is located next to Tainui Marae, the Turangawaewae of many from Ngati Kapu. This land contains a marae dedicated to Our Lady, Hine Nui o te Ao Katoa (Queen of the World). The Mission House is the home of Marist priests, who have cared for St Mary’s since its foundation. They now pastor Maori wherever called within the diocese. The parish is administered by a priest under the authority of the Bishop of Wellington.
The new Church was built in 1992 and incorporated the old Church which had become too small for a growing congregation. The year 2021 is a new beginning. The parish is entrusted to a Leadership Team made up of Ngati Kapu and other parishioners. The renewed Kawenata has helped all to understand the special nature of Pukekaraka and in the future it will be promoted as the place of pilgrimage it already is.
GOVERNING BODY
Alex Hakaria (Trustee)
Mike & Debbie McAsey
Oriwia & Wawata Raureti
Fr Alan Roberts, Fr Phil Cody, sm.
Mission House
4 Convent Road, Otaki, 5512
Fr Phil Cody SM
Ph 021747998
Fr Peter Healey SM
Ph 0273086037
Chaplain: Fr Alan Roberts
41 Koromiko St Otaki
Phone 021 0822 8926
Office Manager: Stephanie Stevens
4 Convent Rd.
0212531080
OUR WEEKLY TIMETABLE
Mon: 10 am Liturgy of the Word & Communion.
Tue: 10 am Mass
Wed: 10 am Mass
Thur: 10 am Mass
Fri: 10 am Mass
Sunday: 10 am Mass (for St. Stephen Kuku, 8:30 am has been canceled.)
Miha Maori on 1st Sundays of each month.
Reconciliation: Any time by request (Communal Reconciliation each Lent and Advent)
EASTER TIMETABLE:
Holy Thursday: 7.00 pm Mass of the Last Supper
Good Friday: 3.00 pm Celebration of the Passion of Jesus.
Holy Saturday: 7.00 p.m. Vigil service of the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday: 10.00 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection.
CHRISTMAS TIMETABLE:
Christmas Eve: 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: 9:00 a.m. (Even if it falls on a Sunday)


