Waikato Pilgrimages 1 From Māngere Bridge to Ihumātao - Nov 2024

This pilgrimage was the first in a series of pilgrimages into the Waikato planned in 2024 and 2025. Each of the series will seek to help people bear witness to some of the events around the Waikato Wars. The final one is planned for Saturday 18th October 2025 and will be led by Archbishop David Moxon and Mana Whenua and will tell the story of Wiremu Tamehana, The Peacemaker.

This pilgrimage started St James Anglican Church in Māngere Bridge. Mark Barnard CEO of Karuwhā and present vicar, shared stories of significant friendships which led to the building, by tangata whenua in the 1850's, of this unique stone church known as St James.

Pictured above, the St James’ Church at Mangere Bridge where our pilgrimage began. 

Heading toward the Manakau harbour.

Stan Thorburn ( Tainui ) led some reflections about Kingi Tawhiao at his Māngere Bridge cottage and later Peter Bowden (Te Atiawa) gave some background to walking into and around the extraordinary Ōtuataua stonefields which were once highly productive gardens for local Māori who were forcibly evicted on Saturday 10th July 1863.

Then we were privileged to be greeted by Mana Whenua from Ihumātao who told us the stories of more recent battles to hold on to ancestral land nearby.

We returned by cars to Māngere Bridge for reflection and refreshments at the Gaff Cafe to end the day.