PlAN YOUR VISIT

VISITS & TOURS

SELF-GUIDED VISIT - Free of charge (koha always appreciated)
Visitors & schools are welcome to wander our grounds and explore our exhibitions in Te Whare Hononga & Hatherly Hall. There are QR codes set on plynths, posts and noteworthy trees. Using a smartphone to scan the codes, visitors can gain access to our stories and history. Explore our stories online. We are occasionally closed for private bookings, so please contact us beforehand to make sure we are open on the day you plan to visit.

HOSTED VISIT - $5 per person
A host will meet you in the courtyard outside Te Whare Hononga for a 10-minute introductory talk, to answer basic questions and point out areas of interest, then will leave you to explore at your own pace. Use the booking form to schedule your visit and make arrangements for a host to meet you. Available Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm. Advance booking required.

GUIDED GROUP/SCHOOL TOUR - For groups of 10-30 people. $15 per person or $150 flat rate per group
A guide will host your group for 1 hour with age-appropriate history kōrero, activities, animated video and time for Q & A. The tour gives an overview of the history connected to Pūkākā Pā, the Land Wars and Taranaki Cathedral. If you plan on bringing more than one class or a group larger than 30 people please either book two tours or contact us for other options. 

Tours must be booked in advance. More information for school visits is available here.

TE WHARE HONONGA EXHIBITIONS

Te Whare Hononga offers a free exhibition exploring our shared history. There is no requirement to be formally welcomed into the space, you’re welcome to come right in. Volunteers are available in Te Whare Hononga to offer manaakitanga and answer questions as you explore the space. The exhibitions include touch screens exploring the history & values of Ngāti Te Whiti, a 9 minute animated video and a large scale version of Te Tiriti. We are occasionally closed for private bookings, so we ask groups to please fill out a booking form before planning your visit. To learn more about Te Whare Hononga and what it offers go here. If you wish to hire Te Whare Hononga for a private event please see our venue hire page. Teachers are encouraged to use Te Whare Hononga as a resource to enhance the NZ History Curriculum. More information for school visits is available here.

Open to the public 9am-3pm Monday-Friday, free of charge.

LAMENT AND HOPE EXHIBITION

The video exhibition “Lament and Hope”, showcases a series of short documentary-style videos capturing personal testimonies of St Mary’s members. The ten mini films can be viewed on a large touchscreen in Hatherly Hall. The intimate interviews tap the rich spiritual and social history of Taranaki Cathedral’s church of St. Mary, which is Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest stone church building. Filmed inside the Cathedral's messy construction site, the testimonies' backdrop contrasts with wonderful memories of baptisms, weddings, and renovations. They also chronicle the pain felt in the wake of the Cathedral’s closure, a loss that is still felt across the wider community. The videos were created by award-winning director and long-time member of St. Mary’s, Katie Wolfe (Ngāti Mutunga).

“Lament and Hope” is open to the public in Hatherly Hall from 9:30 am to 3 pm, weekdays. Entry to the exhibition is free, and all are welcome.