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HomeNgā Kaupapa | What's OnThings to do in KāpitiHeritage TrailParaparaumuOur Lady of Lourdes
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      • Ōtaki and Te Horo
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        • Our Lady of Lourdes
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Our Lady of Lourdes

Te Reo

 

Location: Entrance between 14 and 20 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu

One of the most dramatic landmarks on the Kāpiti Coast is this 14-metre-high statue of the Virgin Mary on the 75-metre-knoll above St Patrick's Church. It was commissioned by the parish priest, Father J.S. Dunn in 1958 to mark the 100th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

A Dutch artist, Martin Roestenberg, built the statue, one of the largest in the world of its kind. He moulded the two-metre high head at his home at Taihape. At the site, a crane lifted it onto scaffolding.  The statue grew from the head downward as layers of plaster-of-paris were applied to scrim and moulded into the shape of draperies. A small door in the base gives access to a trapdoor leading up to the head.  Through a winter of cold gales the artist persevered until, in August 1958, the massive statue was completed with its crown of 17 lights. When floodlit, its sparkling halo is visible for kilometres.

Later, to protect it from vandalism and weathering, the statue was protected by several layers of fibreglass. ‘Stations of the Cross’, scenes of Christ's passion in mosaics, were placed beside the hilltop path.

Photo gallery

Click the thumbnail to enlarge the image.

Hp2629 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2629 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2630 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2630 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2631 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2631 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 Hp2632 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Hp2632 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Hp2633 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Hp2633 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Hp2634 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Hp2634 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 Statue Of Mary1 Statue Of Mary1 Statue Of Mary 3 Statue Of Mary 3 Statue Renovation2012 Statue Renovation2012
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Hp2630 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 - Thumbnail
Hp2631 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1958 - Thumbnail
Hp2632 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 - Thumbnail
Hp2633 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 - Thumbnail
Hp2634 Construction Our Lady Lourdes1959 - Thumbnail
Statue Of Mary1 - Thumbnail
Statue Of Mary 3 - Thumbnail
Statue Renovation2012 - Thumbnail

Download a brochure

Click on a link below to download or print a copy of each heritage trail brochure.

Ōtaki and Te Horo[PDF 2.41 MB] 
Waikanae[PDF 2.51 MB] 
Paraparaumu[PDF 1.67 MB] 
Paekākāriki[PDF 1.41 MB] 

Related links

www.marinenz.com 
Museums

Supporters of the Kāpiti Coast Heritage Trail

Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti
Kapiti Pakeke Lions
Kapiti Historical Society
Otaki Historical Society

paraparaumu-library
Libraries

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Kāpiti Coast District Council
175 Rimu Road
Private Bag 60601
Paraparaumu 5254

Phone: 04 296 4700
Toll free: 0800 486 486
Fax: 04 296 4830
[email protected]

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