St Joseph’s Church, opened on January 1st, 1900, was built by Hone Bidois and Werahiko Borrell using timber from Whakamarama. The first parish priest was Father Holierhoek, a notable church builder, who, along with Father Dolphyn MHM, is buried in the Pitua Rd cemetery. Refurbished for its centenary in 2000, St Joseph’s remains a spiritual home for the local Catholic Maori. The presbytery, built in 1932, was refurbished in 2015.

Mass is held each Sunday at 9am, except on the first Sunday of the month when it’s at St Therese Chapel in Bethlehem.