24-27 September 2026 – A Waikato Pilgrimage
This tour offers an insight into the role of the church and the early settlement of the Waikato region. Led by Sir David Moxon; a former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of New Zealand and Anglican representative to the Roman Catholic Church in Rome between 2013-2017. David is well qualified to share his interest and academic knowledge relating to the relationships between the state, regional communities and the church. This is Sir David’s second Friends of Te Papa Waikato Tour.
Sites will include Pirongia and the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain: Waipā, Whaingaroa Raglan and Taupiri Maunga, which was established as a Christian pa in 1838.
Thursday 24 September 2026
Make your own flight bookings/travel arrangements to/from Hamilton
Accommodation for 3 nights at either Novotel Tainui or Ibis Tainui in Hamilton (see pricing below)
Own arrangements for dinner
Friday 25 September
Breakfast at your hotel of choice
Meet tour leader Sir David Moxon at Novotel Tainui foyer
Depart Hamilton by coach to Pirongia and the Matakitaki Pā site.
Meet Kaumatua Professor Tom Roa, Ngāti Apakura. Welcome and kōrero.
Morning coffee at will in Pirongia village followed by a short walk to visit the Cottage Museum
Travel from there to the Alexandria redoubt for a talk by Sir David Moxon on the Waikato land war.
Lunch included
Then to Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain Talk by sanctuary guide, then walk the forest mountain glade with original bush and bird life.
Return to Kirikiriroa Hamilton
Group dinner in Hamilton included
Saturday 26 September
Breakfast at your hotel
Visits to Whaingaroa-Raglan and Kaitotehe Pa site near Mount Taupiri
On arrival at Whaingaroa Raglan we’ll be met by local Kaumatua Sean Ellison and a welcome re Ngāti Mahunga and other iwi, and local bicultural history, at St Peter’s Anglican church
Morning coffee at will in the Raglan village nearby
Then a 5-minute walk to and meet at the early Wallis family mission memorial by the harbour at the end of the main street for a talk by mission descendants and Sir David Moxon
Lunch in the Raglan village
Then to the local Raglan museum, Tour the museum which includes exhibitions on the high chief Wīremu Neera Te Awaitaia; and the famous restorative justice land advocate Eva Rickard.
Afterwards, travel to Kaitotehe, an ancient archaeological site, including the first western Māori kura school and Christian mission of the Waikato Maniapoto area; situated across Waikato Te Awa, the Waikato River opposite Taupiri Maunga, the sacred mountain of Taupiri where the Māori monarchs are buried.
At Kaitotehe, there’ll be a welcome and talk by Te Rangatira Tame Pokaia, a direct descendant of the first two Māori kings.
Return to Tainui Novotel Hotel Kirikiriroa Hamilton.
Closing field trip tour dinner in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.
Sunday 27 September
Breakfast at the hotel and this is the end of FOTP Tour
Option to visit the Hamilton Gardens – own arrangements
Own flight arrangements from Hamilton
Tour inclusions based on 15 guests:
3 nights’ accommodation including breakfast at either Novotel Tainui or Ibis Tainui in Hamilton
2 x lunches and 2 x dinners
Escorted tours of historical sites, pa, museums and sanctuary in the Waikato by Sir David Moxon
Koha donations to local kaumatua
Transport around Waikato by coach for the Friday/Saturday
Travel times/distances:
Friday: approx. 140km round trip
Saturday: approx. 140km round trip
Price per person, twin share: $1375 per person staying at the Novotel Tainui (4-star hotel)
Single Supplement: $475 for a single room
Or
Price per person, twin share: $1195 per person staying at the Ibis Tainui (3-star hotel)
Single Supplement: $375 for a single room
Travel arrangements to/from Hamilton to be made by the individual. If you’d like help with flight bookings, please contact Katrina.
Price is based on a minimum 15 passengers, maximum 22 and includes GST.
A non-refundable deposit of $300 per person is required to secure your space on this tour. Balance payment 60 days prior departure. Deposit is refundable in case that minimum numbers for the tour are not reached. Once full payment is made, it is not refundable if the booking is cancelled within 60 days of departure.
Bank details: BNZ 02-0727-0074481-02 NZ Travel Brokers (client trust account) – use FOTP KH as your reference.
We recommend domestic travel insurance be taken out at time of booking to cover cancellation costs, please ask for a quote.
To book please contact:
Katrina Harding – NZ Travel Brokers Lower Hutt
Phone: 027 466 3900
Image Credits; Provided and reproduced with permission by Katrina Harding