Indigenous Catholics from four countries meet in Auckland
Shared from
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
First published 2 March 2026
The second International Conference on Catholic Indigenous opened in Auckland on 2 March, with New Zealand delegates hosting visitors from the United States, Canada and Australia, along with representatives of the Vatican. The week began with a pōwhiri at Tūtahi Tonu marae at the University of Auckland, on the whenua of Ngāti Whātua.
Loraine Elliott and Bishop Steve Lowe co-hosted the conference, and each country took a day to lead the programme. The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Gábor Pintér, brought a blessing from Pope Leo XIV, and the conference closed with Mass at the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph on 6 March.