By ANGELA GREGORY Maori issues reporter
The final resting place for the remains of Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier has been confirmed at Hokianga, with an interment planned on the 164th anniversary of his first Mass in New Zealand.
The remains of the founding father of the Catholic Church in New Zealand were exhumed from a Paris cemetery last year.
Maori in the Hokianga and Catholic Church leaders had for years wanted to bring the French-born bishop's remains back to New Zealand, which they considered to be his true home after he gave 30 years of his life to the country.
Initially it was planned to have the interment at Totara Pt, 8km north of Kohukohu, where Bishop Pompallier held the first Catholic Mass on New Zealand soil on January 13, 1838.
However, the 0.2ha site was too small for a planned chapel, and attention turned to Purakau, 16km to the south, where Bishop Pompallier established a large mission.
The Episcopal Vicar for Maori, Pa Henare Tate, said it had now been confirmed that the remains would be buried at Purakau after the bishop's French relatives gave their blessing.
Pa Tate said it had been critical to get the go-ahead for the final resting place from the descendants of Bishop Pompallier's brother in France.
"They took a while to find. The great-grand nieces and nephew had heard a lot about him, but not realised he had had such a high profile out in the Pacific.
"They were humbled to know the history."
Pa Tate said a chapel would be built on the hilly land at Purakau, on the main arm of the harbour, ready for the service on January 13, 2002.
Four of the French relatives have said that they will help bring the bishop's remains to New Zealand.
The bishop's 19ha mission site will be transferred to the Pompallier Purakau Mission Trust, which is expected to be named a charitable trust.
Pa Tate said an archaeological survey of the old mission grounds had revealed fascinating evidence of priests growing and milling wheat, and producing wine.
The return of the bishop's remains had been a Maori initiative on behalf of the Catholic Church.
"Maori were hosts to him and he has been in their korero [speeches] on the marae for generations."
"It had only been a dream but was fired up in the last 20 years."
Pa Tate said Hokianga babies were still been named after the bishop.
"One born in the last year is called Pompy for short."
Final resting place for pioneer bishop
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