Pompallier House is one of the oldest surviving European buildings in New Zealand, built in 1841 as the headquarters of the French Catholic Marist mission to the Western Pacific. The building has been beautifully restored and demonstrates the tannery and printing operations that the missionaries used to produce religious books in te reo Māori.
The guided tour takes visitors through the printing and bookbinding process, the tannery, and the story of Bishop Pompallier's mission. The restored building and its setting on the waterfront of The Strand are exceptional. One of the best heritage experiences in New Zealand for the quality of the restoration and the depth of interpretation. Open daily; guided tours run regularly.