What does it mean to be out walking in the landscape or in a city - on a pilgrimage?
Pilgrimages Aotearoa is an Aotearoa, New Zealand response to a global resurgence in the medieval practice of pilgrimage.
This website is designed to encourage pilgrimage in Aotearoa/New Zealand and provide people with some ideas for creating their own pilgrimages.
Walking with intent has a power to clarify what may be going on in your life. Walking with others can be even more helpful. Walking itself will enable you to get to know places in a new and fresh way. It provides a chance to get in touch with and reflect on the special history of this country, both Māori and non Māori. The landscape we are walking through gives us important information and the opportunity to bear witness ourselves to important events in our history that have the power to change us.
This leads into the bigger question of where we may be going as a nation.
Pilgrimages Aotearoa
Pilgrimages Aotearoa are a small, ever-evolving, welcoming group of people dedicated to the spiritual practice of walking with intent. Pilgrimage reminds us that without the recognition of the sacred in life, we risk becoming solely transactional with each other, with our land and with, however we understand, God.
Contact us if you’d like more information.
Upcoming Pilgrimages
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The Sea Path
From the Ferry Building to Long Bay, Auckland ( about 20kms )
8.00am Saturday 5th April - 10.00am Sunday 6th April 2025
Bookings are essential as places are limited to 20
Our walk begins at the Ferry building, at the bottom of Queen Street at 8.00am on Saturday morning ready to catch the Devonport ferry.
We will then follow the coastal pathway north to Vaughan Park Retreat Centre in Long Bay.
As we walk, we will explore some of the history of Aotearoa that is still visible in this coastal landscape especially Rangitoto, Torpedo Bay, Fort Takapuna and Rahopara pa; these are significant sites for Tangata Whenua.
At the end of the walk we have a celebratory meal at Vaughan Park Retreat Centre. In the morning, return rides to Auckland can often be found with fellow pilgrims or a bus is available nearby.
Please be prepared to book accommodation at Vaughan Park for the night stay over.
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Waikato Pilgrimage Series
Crossing the Mangatāwhiri Stream
8.30am - 5pm Saturday 24th May 2025
Bookings are essential as places are limited to 25
This pilgrimage is the second of a series of pilgrimages into the Waikato planned in 2024 and 2025.
We will meet at 8.30am - at the Paymaster’s House, 201 Jesmond Road in Drury and car pool to the foot of Mount William.
Our walk will take us over Mt. William, and down into the Waikato. We will then cross the Mangatāwhiri Stream, as the imperial troops did under General Cameron. This crossing in 1863 provoked the beginning of the New Zealand Land Wars.
We will hear stories en route from Stan Thorburn ( Tainui ) and others about their ancestors’ lives in the Waikato at that time.
We will finish our walk at The Landing at Mercer for reflection and refreshments at the end the day around 5pm.
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Walk into Deeper History
From Maungawhau to Pukekawa/The Auckland Domain and beyond.
9am - 4pm, Saturday 7th June 2025
Bookings are essential as places are limited to 20
We will meet at 9am at Friend and Whau cafe, Maungawhau/Mt Eden to start the morning with coffee and a look at the interactive display of the history of this maunga.
This pilgrimage is about walking into sites between Maungawhau and Pukekawa /The Auckland Domain that are very familiar and yet hold important history that is not immediately apparent, nor well known.
This includes the site of one of the Auckland homes of the first Māori King and the first Auckland Māori chapel.
Our journey will end with a glass of wine or cup of tea at Rangipuha, back in Mt Eden.
Contact Us
This website is designed to encourage pilgrimage in Aotearoa, New Zealand and provide people with some ideas for creating their own. Contact us if you’d like more information or to share pilgrimage ideas of your own.
