Our Lady of New Zealand – Holy Mary, Mother of God

A National Image for Aotearoa

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Ko Hāta Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua (Holy Mary, Mother of God) is New Zealand’s national image of Our Lady, commissioned by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference to mark the rededication of Aotearoa to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven. This artwork is a powerful expression of faith, unity, and identity - drawing together the threads of Catholic tradition and Māori symbolism to create an image that belongs to all of us.

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This image holds a special place in the life of the Church in Aotearoa. Its commissioning led to the elevation of St Mary of the Angels in Wellington as New Zealand’s first national Marian shrine - a sacred place of pilgrimage for the whole country.

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At the heart of the painting stands Mary, clothed in a rich blue korowai reflecting the colour of the pukeko and the vast oceans that surround our islands. Her cloak is edged with poutama, the ascending pattern symbolising the journey towards heavenly knowledge. On her dress are fleur-de-lis—a symbol of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity, stylised to evoke the koru, connecting her to the land of Aotearoa.

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She wears a tiki, signifying her unique role as Mother of God, alongside a rosary and a mere - the spiritual weapons she offers in the fight against evil. In her hand she holds a twelve-pronged fern, symbolising the apostles she nurtures as Queen of the Apostles.

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Jesus, wrapped in a rare kahu kiwi cloak, carries a lectionary, symbolising the Word of God. Together, they stand before a marae, welcoming us in. Mary’s raised hand gestures a karanga, calling her children home, while Christ’s blessing hand gestures haere mai, inviting us into the family of God.

Framing them are the four Evangelists, stylised as kaitiaki—guardians protecting the faith. Beneath them are four whare rūnanga, connecting this image to the whakapapa of the Church: St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière in Lyon, Te Tii Marae in Waitangi, and Motuti, where Bishop Pompallier’s remains now rest.

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This image invites us all to draw closer to Christ, to honour Mary as Mother of God and Mother of the Church, and to walk together in unity as one people of faith.

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Ko Hāta Maria is now permanently housed at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington, New Zealand’s national shrine to Our Lady. We invite you to visit, pray, and encounter her in this sacred space.

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Learn more about Ko Hāta Maria and the shrine by visiting: tearaamaria.nz/artwork