Pompallier Mission and Printery

Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes More
Apr 30th, 2023

Wow we were so lucky to have Dawn guide us through the Mission and show us the whole process from setting the phrases right through to the final binding of the books. Her knowledge of the process and passion for her tours gives you a real sense of wonder and appreciation of the unbelievably hard life it must have been for the brothers who produced the books. Dawn is easily one of the best guides that we have met through all our years of travels. So hopefully you are lucky too because guides like Dawn are a real treat.
Apr 30th, 2023

Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No More
Apr 16th, 2023

Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended No More
Apr 1st, 2023

We really enjoyed our visit - the $20 pp cost for a guided tour was money very well spent, as we were only 2 plus our lovely guide, & we learned so much. Discovering how many phrases still in common use today, were derived from the printing trade e.g "strong silent type", "mind your ps & qs" & "make a good first impression" to name a few, was an added bonus to hearing the Catholic southseas mission story. Being able to work the old permanent press & see the tools & methods used to bind books was most interesting as well. Lastly it was noteworthy to we non-Kiwis, to learn that it was Bishop Pompallier's last-minute interventions, that ensured the Waitangi Treaty signed with The British Crown, contained language that gave all Maori ongoing religious, language & cultural freedoms.
Mar 26th, 2023