WELLINGTON, ARCHDIOCESE of. - It is situated in the southern part of New Zealand and originally formed part of the vicariate of Western Oceania, erected in 1835, which comprised the whole of New Zealand.
On 22 Jan. 1840 the first group of immigrants arrived on the island and founded the city of W. On 20 June 1848 the vicariate was divided Auckland (v.) and Port Nicholson, so that two thirds of the island group belonged to the diocese of Port Nicholson. By a letter of Propaganda dated 18 Dec. 1851 its name was changed to that of W., and on 10 May 1887 it was raised to metropolitan status for the whole of New Zealand. From the diocese of W. MEDINA (v.) on 4 Oct. 1869 and, on 10 May 1887, CHRISTCHURCH, DIOCESI DI (v.).
It has an area of 84,950 sq. km., with a population of 600,000 inhabitants, of whom 73,725 are Catholics, including 6,866 Maoris. There are 108 diocesan priests and 114 religious priests; 72 brothers and 810 sisters. Parishes, 60; churches, 134; ecclesiastical colleges, 2; schools, 114; hospitals, 3; orphanages, 3.