The claim was made by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference on Facebook.

As their time in Rome was ending, Bishops Laurenson and Adams visited the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.

The Church where the bishops had their photos taken is the one where Bishop Pompallier was ordained Bishop more than 180 years ago.

While Pompallier's link to New Zealand is not disputed, commenter Matthew Blair points out that the lineage link to Pompallier claimed by the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference is incorrect.

In reply to the Conference's claim, Blair acknowledges that Pompallier has a special place in our history but says that according to the Catholic Hierarchy, most, if not all, our current bishops trace their lineage through Cardinal McKeefry to Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney, then via several senior Italian cardinals to Pope Clement XIII.

According to Catholic Hierarchy, Pompallier did not even consecrate New Zealand's second bishop, Philippe Viard.

Archbishop Polding, the Archbishop of Sydney, consecrated Viard. Pompallier only co-consecrated Viard.

According to Catholic Hierarchy, Pompallier was not the principal consecrator of any other bishop.

Sources

• NZ Catholic Bishops Conference
• Catholic Hierarchy

The group was returning from a camp at Great Barrier Island Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

Several students were seasick during the rough, four hour crossing but recovered quickly once they landed.

The group initially planned to make a five-hour crossing back from the island to Marsden Cove, near Whangarei.

However, an approaching tropical storm saw a route change that cut the original voyage time in half and landed the group about an hour north of Auckland instead.

Stanton said the it was an uncomfortable trip but the wind was not particularly gusty and nowhere near the forecasted 30 to 40 knots winds.

He said negative reports in the news and on social media about the trip going ahead even though passenger ferry services had been cancelled were misleading and "not valid".

The school's decision to keep to the scheduled return on Friday, was made after lengthy consultation with Maritime New Zealand, Police, the Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the skipper he said.

"Consideration was given to delaying the departure by one day but the forecasted change in wind and sea conditions would have made the return passage even more difficult."

MNZ's Northern Regional Compliance Manager Neil Rowarth said the change of plan was sensible and in accordance with MNZ's advice.

Rowarth said the boat, the Nimble II, was a strong, capable vessel which would have the wind behind it, making the journey much more comfortable for students and teachers on board.

The parents of two students refused to let their children make the trip, one family because they considered the trip too risky and the other because their daughter was prone to seasickness.

It is understood the two students flew home on a regular air flight.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• tvnz.co.nz
• Image: getmyboat

Many have already commented on the man, his life and his works and I have read reflections and tributes online that tell the story of a man who commanded enormous respect. But at the church service I learnt quite a bit more.

Although much of his work contains a religious element, I had no idea how deeply he held the Catholic faith.

His real name is Hone Papita, which is a translation of John Baptiste, and he was named after Jean Baptiste Pompallier. This is, of course, the Bishop Pompallier who was basically the first Catholic missionary to set foot in New Zealand and became the first Catholic Bishop of Auckland.

His presence in Northland from 1838 onwards meant that several of the Maori villages of the far north took on the Catholic faith. Mitimiti was one of those villages. I had intended to visit the village when we were on holiday in the Hokianga simply because I knew of it from Ralph's work but what I know now is that the village is also full of religious symbolism. The graveyard is called Hione or Zion and the church is Hato Hemi or St James. These stand alongside a traditional marae and perhaps give an insight into the way that Ralph perceived the world.

Certainly the Roman Catholic service conducted for Ralph was highly ritualised and full of symbolism itself. Most of us present were not Catholic but the religious proceedings were clearly requested by Ralph before he passed away.

During the eulogies he was described more than once as being his own man and being a man of integrity who used his talents to fight issues of racism, inequality and threats to the environment.

Quite possibly, the church has played its part in cementing his convictions about doing the right thing. Continue reading

Sources

• Tahu Potiki in The Press
• Image: Commonwealth Study Conferences Australia

Article and photo reproduced with permission.

Tahu Potiki is a columnist for The Christchurch Press.

In his CathBlog Michael Visontay points out that over 150 years ago, under the leadership of Bishop Pompallier, a printing press was established in Russell, New Zealand. The Church "embraced new media with a zeal and passion that breathed new life into a whole culture, and transformed the lives of thousands of people".

• Read Michael Visontay's blog.
• Image:Bay of Islands Attractions

Michael Visontay is editor in chief of CathNews Australia.