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Suffragan diocese Auckland, New Zealand

Diocese of Auckland

Aucopolitan(us)

Latin Church

Latin rite diocese covering the upper North Island of New Zealand, seated in Auckland. Erected on 20 June 1848, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Wellington and its seat is the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph.

On the map

Esri
The address the register holds for Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Every see on one map: browse the dioceses. Churches with recorded hours: find Mass times.

Established
1848
Catholics
171,123
Priests
138
Territory
24,500 km²

Parishes and churches

64 listed churches in our records. Open a parish for Mass times, confession, directions and sources where recorded.

This is our recorded coverage, not an official diocesan parish count. Confirm service times with the parish before travelling.

The bishop

Bishop
Stephen Lowe
Born
3 August 1962
Birthplace
Hokitika

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph stands in Auckland, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

One of the two dioceses established in New Zealand on 20 June 1848, the Diocese of Auckland is a Latin Church jurisdiction of the Catholic Church that became a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Wellington in 1887. On 6 March 1980 a large area south of Auckland was separated from it to create the Diocese of Hamilton. As of 2021, the diocese was home to almost 40 per cent of New Zealand's 471,000 Catholics.

This see in the wire

Filed by the see itself

Published on the see's own news feed. A diocese reports on the whole Church, so these are often about somewhere else.

  • A tiny addition to the collection…

    The Diocese of Auckland archives received a monstrance shaped souvenir badge from a priest in Northland. The enamel and zinc badge commemorates the first National Eucharistic Congress held in New Zealand in 1940 during the country's official centenary. The badge features the text 1840 N.Z 1940 Nat Euch Cong on the bottom. A similar item is held by Te Papa, which identifies the manufacturer as Theo Meyer Ltd of Auckland.

    Sep 27, 2026 · Liturgy

  • A pectoral Cross that has travelled the world

    The Auckland Diocese collection includes a pectoral cross formerly worn by Bishop Thomas Croke, the second bishop of the diocese. The cross reached the collection after traveling through Rome and Tonga. The diocese notes that current and past bishops often wear the pectoral crosses of their predecessors. For example, Bishop Lenihan wore the cross of Bishop Luck, while both Bishop Pat Dunn and the current bishop have worn the pectoral cross of Bishop Pompallier.

    Sep 17, 2026 · Bishops

  • Franciscan Friars return to New Zealand

    Sep 2, 2026 · Religious Orders

  • Catholic Diocese of Auckland works with 25 altar-stones

    Aug 18, 2026 · Liturgy

  • Architects in awe and a visit from my former boss

    Aug 10, 2026 · Dioceses

6 stories in the wire either name this see or come from its own feed. Read the wire.