Taonga Tuku Iho — Pompallier Heritage Centre & Archives
Diocesan Archive
The Diocese of Auckland was officially formed in 1848. But our history can be traced back to 1836, with the inception of the mission for the Catholic Church in New Zealand, when Jean-Baptiste Pompallier was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania. Our Archives protect records and artefacts collected since these earliest days.
The Diocesan Archive is constituted under Canon Law. It is responsible for ensuring that all records generated by the Bishop and his administration and those of his predecessors are preserved, boxed and listed. Every diocese also has obligations under the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church to create and maintain an archive.
The Auckland Diocesan Archive holds the records of the following Bishops of Auckland:
- Most Rev. J. B. F. Pompallier (1836 – 1869)
- Most Rev. T. W. Croke (1870 – 1874)
- Most Rev. W. B. Steins S. J. (1879 – 1881)
- Most Rev. J. E. Luck O.S.B. (1882 – 1896)
- Most Rev. G. M. Lenihan (1896 – 1910)
- Most Rev. H. W. Cleary (1910 - 1929)
- Most Rev. J. M. Liston (1929 - 1970)
- Most Rev. R. J. Delargy (1970-1974)
- Most Rev. J. Mackey (1974-1982)
- Most Rev. D. Browne (1983-1995)
- Most Rev. P. J. Dunn (1995-2021)
To see listings for the records from Bishops Pompallier to Cleary, click on the image of the bishop below to download a searchable PDF list. Those records are all available for viewing. More recent records are made available where possible, but in some cases, are subject to restricted access.
Discovering the Auckland Diocesan Archive - Journey with the Archivist
Click the button to see the latest discoveries from the Diocesan Archives.
We get a number of enquiries for orphanage records. So listings of what we hold for the former orphanages at St Joseph’s Takapuna and Star of the Sea in Howick are now available for download.
Note that due to privacy laws you won’t be able browse the items themselves. However, once you have identified the relevant listings our archives staff will research the information and provide copies of available documents.
As required by the Privacy Act, for release of personal documents you will need to provide proof of your identity. This would be a verified copy of your passport or driver licence and certificates showing any name changes, such as marriage. Verification can be done by any JP at no cost.
Click on the image of St Joseph’s to take you to the download page.
St Joseph's Industrial School and Orphanage, Takapuna, Auckland.
Morrison, John M, fl 1883-1951: Photographs of Takapuna and Milford. Ref: 1/2-C-021066-F.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22761810
As well as Bishops’ records, the Archive holds records and information related to Catholic parishes, priests, religious orders, schools, orphanages, organisations and events of the Diocese. Please email or phone the Archives if you would like help finding information or would like to organise an appointment to view records. Note that under the Privacy Act 2020, you may be asked for proof of identity before releasing any personal records.
Contact Details
DDI: 09-360 3062 or 09-360 3064
Email: [email protected]
In addition to records, the Pompallier Heritage and Archive Centre has an extensive collection of artefacts. This includes furniture, vestments, artworks, photographs, objects of devotion, sacred vessels, books, and items brought by our missionaries that date back as early as the 1500s. The largest item is Bishop’s House, a heritage-listed building. Further information on the collection will be added to this site over time.
