The Pompallier Hokianga Trust was formed in the year 2000 at a hui in Motuti, Hokianga and was registered as a charitable trust on 14th February 2001.
The reason for the formation of the Trust was initially to ensure the return of Bishop Pompallier’s remains to Hokianga through fundraising and supporting the Parishes of Te Taitokerau.
Since the return and reinterment of the Bishop’s remains in 2002 the Trust promotes visits and pilgrimages to the three sites associated with the Bishop, namely, Tōtara Point, Motuti and Pūrākau. It also maintains and develops these three sites.
Members of the Trust:
In the year 2017 the Trust members are:
- Pa Henare Tate (Chairperson) RIP 1.4.2017
- Fr Jun Perez (Chairperson)
- Mrs Emma Davis: (Secretary)
- Sr Magdalen Sheahan (Treasurer)
- Pa Bernard Dennehy
- Joan Daniels
- Sr Rose Harris
- Amie Topia
- Henare Te Wake
In the year 2008 the Trust members were:
- Mr Joseph Topia (Chairperson)
- Mrs Emma Davis: (Secretary)
- Pa Bernard Dennehy; (Treasurer)
- Mrs Irene Hancy
- Sr Rose Harris
- Mrs Shirley Tate.
The original members were:
- Mr Waata Kanara: (Chairperson)
- Mrs Emma Davis (Secretary)
- Pa Henare Tate (Treasurer – Episcopal Vicar for Maori)
- Mrs Irene Hancy
- Mr Joseph Topia
- Pa Brian Prendeville
- Pa Anthony Brown ( the Parish Priest of Panguru as ex-officio member).
Mission Statement:
The Pompallier Hokianga Trust’s mission statement is ‘To grow the Pompallier phenomenon which is the Spiritual, Cultural and Historical legacy of Bishop Pompallier. ‘
The Trust intends to grow this phenomenon through:
- Inspiring people with the values of faith, wisdom and commitment for the project in order to create a culture of ease, create an experience of God, enjoy a mystical experience and experience Pompallier
- Communicating the Trust’s Vision so that the people have a regard for this project and will help to promote it through communicating and living it.
- Ensuring that the Trust’s objectives are interrelated both spiritually and culturally so that its future work will be mandated by the Church and the People.
- Ensuring that Project development is always within the capacity of people and infrastructure so that the people are able to participate and contribute confidently.
- Obtaining on-going Central and Local Government support for Hokianga social and economic development so that the Project may benefit from and contribute to such development.
Activities 2006 – 2017:
In this period the Trust has carried out the following activities:
- hosting visitors and pilgrims at St Mary’s Church, Motuti
- renovating and opening the “Pomapārie Visitor Centre” beside the church
- hosting the annual commemorative Mass at Totara Point in January each year
- refurbishing the monument at Tōtara Point and maintaining the roadway
- landscaping the one acre site at Tōtara Point with plants and shrubs, levelled areas and carpark
- placing four commemorative plaques on the site, for Bishop Pompallier, Te Ihutai, Thomas and Mary Poynton, and Dr Neville Hogg
- publicising the events at Motuti and Tōtara Point in Catholic parishes and schools throughout New Zealand
- helping maintain St Mary’s Church at Motuti where the Bishop’s remains rest
- providing new road signage to St Mary’s Church, and installing a noticeboard outside St Mary’s Church
- painting of outdoor seating at Tōtara Point
