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ABOUT OUR PARISH
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.
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.
In 1844 Father Jean Baptiste Comte a Marist Father was sent on a mission from Auckland to Otaki. It is from here that Catholicism spread within the Wellington Archdioceses. By the mid-1850s, the church was established in Nelson, Whanganui, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu and soon after that in Taranaki. They also travelled to Kaikoura
and Akoroa to minister.
Pukekaraka is blessed to have the oldest, still-in-use Catholic Church in New Zealand. This building serves as a weekday Mass Centre and is often requested for baptisms, weddings and funerals. It is recognised as a special place for prayer.
WHAKAHERE - GOVERNING BODY:
Alex & Maxine Hakaria
Debbie & Mike McAsey
Oriwia Raureti & Wawata Johnson
Fr Phil Cody, SM
OUR WEEKLY TIMETABLE:
Mon & Tues:10 am Liturgy of the Word & Communion.
Wed - Fri 10 am Mass
Sat: No Mass
Sun: 10 am Mass
Miha Maori Mass is on the 1st Sunday of each month
month at 10 am.
RECONCILIATION for Christmas 2025 Saturday 13th December at 10.30 am
Rite II Reconciliation, which combines a communal liturgy with shared scripture, reflection and examination of conscience, followed by individual confession and absolution from a priest. There will be 3 priests available.
CHRISTMAS TIMETABLE 2025
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Christmas Eve Children's Miha Maori 5:00 pm (Vigil)
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Christmas Day: 9:00 am
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Mass from 26th December through to the 1st January at 10 am
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2nd January Liturgy & Word at 10 am
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Sunday Mass from the 4th January at 10 am
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The week of the 5th & 12 January, weekdays will be Liturgy of the Word & Communion.
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From 19th January, we revert to our normal timetable, see above.
Updated 3.12.2025
For the history of St. Mary's Otaki from 1944, please click the title above.
