Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa
Sisters of Mercy New Zealand

Vision Statement

Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa
Sisters of Mercy New Zealand
Centred in God
Impelled to be Mercy
Keeping hope alive
In our world today.

How are we to be together?
How are we to be in mission?
How are we to give expression to the
spiritual and corporal works of mercy in our time?

Tihei Mauri Ora Chapter 2009

About Us

Sisters of Mercy were the first religious sisters to come to Aotearoa New Zealand, arriving in Auckland from Ireland in 1850. From 1850 to 1897 four Mercy Congregations were founded in Aotearoa New Zealand.

On 12 December 2005 the four congregations became a single Congregation – Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

Today 259 sisters are engaged in mission in Aotearoa New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. Sisters are also missioned to Chile and Ireland.

Aotearoa New Zealand

Sisters of Mercy were the first religious sisters to come to Aotearoa New Zealand, arriving in Auckland from Ireland in 1850. From 1850 to 1897 four Mercy Congregations were founded in Aotearoa New Zealand.

On 12 December 2005 the four congregations became a single Congregation – Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

Today 259 sisters are engaged in mission in Aotearoa New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. A sister is missioned to Santiago, Chile.
Grounded in the Gospel, the vision of Catherine McAuley and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand share their resources in response to local needs for education, health care and social service with a particular concern for women and children.
Mercy mission is lived out through the engagement of sisters in a wide variety of ministries and in incorporated Mercy ministries where sisters work alongside dedicated companions in mission and co-workers.

Samoa

The Sisters of Mercy went to Samoa in January 1972. Today, Sisters teach at Paul VI College and St Joan of Arc Primary and Pre-School, Leulumoega, Upolu and St Theresa’s Primary and Pre-School, at Fusi, Savaii.

Tonga

The Sisters of Mercy went to Tonga in 1964. Today, Tongan sisters in communities at Lapaha and Kolonga are engaged in secondary school teaching, parish work, support for women and children and justice programmes.