St Joseph's Pāuatahanui is a part of St Theresa's Parish. It is used
for weddings, funerals, baptisms and Christmas Carols in December.
St Joseph’s Catholic Church is a church and graveyard with spiritual, heritage, and cultural significance to the St Theresa’s Plimmerton Parish, the Pāuatahanui district and the Wellington region.
The church was established in 1878, has a Category One Heritage NZ status and is the first Catholic Church built in the Porirua Basin and the second in the greater Wellington area. A graveyard surrounds the church, which includes graves of early settlers and their descendants.
As part of the Catholic Parish of Plimmerton, whilst no longer used for regular parish worship, St. Joseph’s is available for parish activities including weddings, funerals, baptisms, and the annual Christmas Carols in December. The church also welcomes public hire for personal, non-denominational and community events.
We ask those hiring the venue to respect the spiritual and historical nature of St Joseph’s.
The church may be hired for weddings with a valid marriage license. Ceremonies are to be conducted by a recognised Catholic celebrant for Catholic liturgies, and a recognised religious or civil celebrant for other ceremonies.
Confirmation of bookings is at the discretion of the Parish.
The church may be hired for funerals and baptisms. It is expected as with weddings these ceremonies will be conducted by appropriate celebrants, and again with the permission of the Parish.
The venue can be hired for filming, concerts, and other community events. It is expected this will be of a nature that respects St. Joseph’s in keeping with the guidelines above.
If you are interested, you are welcome to make an appointment to look around, please see contact details to arrange a time.
Weddings | $600 |
Funeral and baptisms | $500 |
Community events | $300 (negotiable) |
To book:
We are a small group of stewards overseeing the care and upkeep of St Joseph’s. We maintain the property, plan the future care needs, and monitor the property’s historical context. Our mission is to care for, preserve and resource St Joseph’s and its churchyard, acknowledging the tangata whenua and early pioneer history, the church’s stakeholders and donors, while ensuring its future as a place for celebration and worship for all to enjoy.
Everyone is welcome at St Joseph’s. We invite those who have an interest in local history or caring for sacred places and would like to be involved in the events held at the church, to join with us as we develop a vibrant presence in the community.
Please enquire with us if you would like to be part of the team.
Email: stjosephspauatahanui@gmail.com
Phone: 04 233 1279
Stewardship Committee:
As the 150-year anniversary of the church’s establishment approaches, plans are underway for how this could be celebrated. With the increased visibility of the church from SH1, we are expecting a surge in interest.
Most immediately, we are calling for archival material and memories. Collection of this material is being coordinated by Susan Bieleski. Please contact Susan on 0212974445, the St Joseph’s email, or the parish office.
We acknowledge the support of these sponsors of St Joseph’s Church:
Our History
St Joseph's Catholic Church is situated on State Highway 58 between Pauatahanui Village and Judgeford, opposite Bradey Road.